Scabies is a contagious disorder of the skin caused by very small, insects or mites called the Human Itch mite or Scabies itch mite. The female insect burrows into the skin where she lays 1 - 3 eggs daily. A very small, hard to see, zigzag blister usually marks the trail of the insect. Other more obvious symptoms are an intense itching (especially at night) and a red rash that can occur at the area that has been scratched.
The most common locations for scabies are on the sides of fingers, between the fingers, on the backs of the hands, on the wrists, heels, elbows, armpits, inner thighs and around the waist (belt line).
One of the great problems with scabies always has been misdiagnosis.
Scabies is spread by personal contact, e.g., by shaking hands or sleeping together or by close contact with infected articles such as clothing, bedding or towels. It is usually found where people are crowded together or have frequent contact, and is most common among school children, families, roommates, and sexual partners. Scabies can be spread by the insect itself or by the egg. Prompt action is required to rid a person of the insects and eggs.
Sarcoptes scabiei is a form of mite, which burrows beneath the skin and lays eggs which hatch in as little as three to four days and the whole life cycle is completed in approximately 14 days. The infestation causes pimples due to an allergic reaction to the faeces and carcasses left behind.
Infection and severe discomfort follows and because of the habitat (beneath the skin) this complaint causes even more problems due to the toxicity of the treatment currently used to penetrate and treat the disease. Trials as listed below have revealed that Neem is probably the most effective scabies treatment and also the safest.
Scabies Information
The use and efficacy of Azadirachta indica ADR ('Neem') and Curcuma longa ('Turmeric') in scabies. A pilot study.
Charles V, Charles SX.
Medical and Cancer Research and Treatment Centre, Nagercoil, India.
In the Ayurvedha and Sidha system of medicine (Indian system of medicine) Azadirachta indica ADR ('Neem') and Curcuma longa ('Turmeric') has been used for healing chronic ulcers and scabies. The 'Neem' and 'Turmeric' was used as a paste for the treatment of scabies in 814 people. In 97% of cases cure was obtained within 3 to 15 days of treatment. We find that this is a very cheap, easily available, effective and acceptable mode of treatment for the villagers in the developing countries.
This disease does not indicate lack of hygiene and can be contracted quite easily by contact with humans or dogs. Scabies known in the canine world as mange mite accounts for deaths of many foxes each year. This mite can live for days in bedding or clothing etc. and washing does not always provide the temperature to cleanse the said items.
Scabies Medication
Although there are several prescription medicines to treat this problem, they are very harsh to the skin and body and may be dangerous to use because of their strong chemicals - Neem is a gentler scabies medication (A number of effective treatments were based on organo phosphates, which was developed as nerve gas.) These methods often fail to cure the problem or even relieve the itch. Quite often the symptoms are suppressed for a time, but as soon as the treatment is stopped, the itch is back because the mites have not been eradicated. It is recommended that clothes, which have been worn during infection be treated or isolated (refuse bag 10 days) to avoid re-infestation. Dogs must be treated, as this may have been the initial source of the problem. Cat lovers/owners will be pleased to hear that there is no known case of a feline variety of mite affecting humans.
It must be noted that use of conventional prescription treatments on people suffering from other forms of skin disease such as Psoriasis and Eczema can produce some very unpleasant results.
Neem Genie research resulted in development of a full treatment pack for the eradication of scabies from the household.
