Tests for Human Scabies
If you have a scabies infestation, a qualified dermatologist who has seen this skin condition numerous times can often make a preliminary diagnosis just by taking a look at the pattern of your scabies rash and noting other defining characteristics of a scabies infection. However, there are simple medical tests for human scabies that can confirm your doctor's diagnosis.
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What Your Doctor Looks For
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The earmarks of a human scabies infection may be obvious to a physician who knows what to look for. The female scabies mite responsible for this unpleasant, itchy condition lays her eggs in a "burrow" in your skin, usually in select areas such as the webbing of the fingers, the inner wrist, around your waist, between your shoulder blades, and around the breasts or genitals. Scabies burrows in children are likely to be found on the neck, scalp, palms and soles. A human scabies infection causes a red, pimple-like rash that results in intense itching that's more severe at night.
Skin Scrapings, Shavings & Needle Biopsies
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One way to confirm the presence of human scabies is to take a culture of the skin around the area of the burrow. Alternately, a thin layer of the skin can be shaved from the suspicious area, or a needle may be used to extract a mite from its burrow. These cultures are placed on a slide and examined under a microscope to confirm the presence of the mite.
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Burrow Ink Test
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When using the burrow ink test (BIT), an area of the skin suspected to be inhabited by the scabies mite is daubed with fountain pen ink, after which the skin is cleansed with alcohol. If the characteristic serpentine "zig-zag" pattern of a scabies burrows appears, this is a sign that scabies are present.
Topical Tetracycline
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Another method to determine the presence of a scabies burrow is through use of topical tetracycline solution, a procedure similar to the BIT. The skin is daubed with topical tetracycline and then wiped off with alcohol. The area of the skin is then placed under a special light to see if the zig-zag pattern of the scabies burrow is present.
Treating Scabies
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Once a scabies infestation has been identified, treatment entails purchase of a prescription topical lotion. According to the American Social Health Association, the recommended treatment to kill human scabies is permethrin cream, which is applied to all parts of the body from the neck down and left on for eight to 14 hours, after which it can be rinsed off. Additionally, all clothing, linens, towels and other personal items that an infested person came into contact with before treatment should be laundered in hot water (at least 130 degrees F) and dried on hot air for at least 20 minutes. ASHA recommends that personal items that cannot be washed be placed in airtight containers and stored outside the home for at least two weeks.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo: Kriss Szkurlatowski (stock.xchng)
