Scabies Mite Life Cycle
Officially known as Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, scabies mites are microscopic burrowing insects that infect the skin of both animals and humans. Highly contagious, they cause rashes and tremendous itching through all stages of their life cycle.
Other People Are Reading
-
History
-
The scabies life cycle has four stages; eggs, larval, nymphal, and adult. All of them occur on the skin of the mites' hosts. The insects can survive only three days without a host.
Time Frame
-
Eggs hatch in 48 to 72 hours. Larvae migrate the skin's surface to dig molting burrows where they remain up to 4 days, becoming nymphs. Over another four days, nymphs molt into adults and mate; females dig new burrows and lay eggs for another one to two months.
-
Size
-
The oval eggs, says the CDC, are between .10 and .15 mm long. Adult females measure between .30 and .45 mm, twice the size of males.
Effects
-
When the larval and adult scabies burrow into the skin, they and their eggs stimulate delayed immune system responses including itching and rash. The mites have evolved to avoid triggering the response until established on a host.
Treatment
-
Oral ivermectin, a topical 5% permethrin cream for adults or a 10% Crotamiton cream for infants, will eradicate all stages of scabies. Antibiotics treat secondary skin infections from excessive scratching.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Burrowing scabies cause severe itching and rash. Michael Geary: Creative Commons
