Relief from Scabies
Scabies is essentially a skin infection which is caused by a particular type of mite called Sarcoptes Scabiei. The scabies mites are very small, grey in colour and are not visible to naked eyes. The mites generally require the warmth of the body to survive. These mites make a tunnel just below the skin surface and start living there. Once into the skin the parasitic female mites start feeding on the blood of the host. They lay eggs which hatch after 21 days and the larva comes out. The new mites make their own tunnel below the skin surface, grow up, lay eggs and in this way they continue to multiply in number unless the cycle is broken by proper treatment. Scabies is characterized by itchiness and are contagious. A person with scabies can infect others unless the eggs and mites in his body are fully destroyed with proper medication.
The scabies spread through
- Skin to skin or bodily contact with the infected person.
- Sharing of personal articles like towel, bed linen, clothes with the infected person.
Anybody of any age group can get infected by this disease. The occurrence of this disease is in no way linked to poor hygiene. However it is common in crowded conditions where people live in close physical contacts.
Treatment of scabies
- The first step is to apply topical mite killer creams of permethrin (Elimite) or Lindane on the infected areas. Leave it overnight before washing them off. However, pregnant women, nursing mother or children below 2 years of age should not use lindane.
- Oral medication is also effective to treat scabies
- To relieve itching antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can be used.
- The clothes, towel, bed linens, pillow covers of the patient should be washed in boiling water. Because the mite does not survive long after it is moved away from the body of the host.
Home remedies
- Mix equal quantities of neem (margosa) leaf, turmeric powder and mustard oil and make a fine paste. Apply it on the body of the infected person and leave it for half an hour. After that the person should take a bath. His clothes and towels should be washed after having been soaked in hot neem water. Repeat this 7-10 times a day till lesion completely disappears. Simultaneously the person can also drink the decoction derived boiling neem bark in water.
- Make a paste of sublimed sulphur with eight tablespoon of the coconut oil and rub it all over the body of the infected person after he had taken a hot bath. It should be done for 3 successive nights.
- Make a fine powder of dried peepul leaf and then dust it over the infected area.
- Mix equal quantities of drumstick leaf juice and seasame oil then boil them till the water completely evaporates. Allow it to cool and then store it. Apply it on the infected areas daily.
- Apply fresh juice of apricot leaves over the affected area.
- During the treatment period the patient should take plenty of juicy fruits such as orange, apple, pineapple, pear, peaches and melon.