HOW DO YOU GET SCABIES IN THE FIRST PLACE?

When you get scabies, the first question that comes in mind is how in the hell did I catch these tiny parasites, you’re about to find out where do scabies come from in the first place, and how they spread, Because, If you’ve got the right answers you’ll be able to avoid reinfestation.

WHAT ARE SCABIES?

It’s hard to deal with your infestation now that you have it. But, first of all, you ought to know what scabies is? We’re talking about an itchy skin condition coming from a tiny parasite called Sarcoptes scabiei mite (or the itch mite). These microscopic creatures dig a tunnel under the skin of the host to lay their eggs. After a few days, the eggs hatch; then the larvae move to the surface to reproduce and spread the disease across the body or to another host. The symptoms (rash, itching…) are results of the allergic reaction to the mites.

HOW DO YOU GET SCABIES?

Scientific laboratories in the U. S., Australia, India, France, and England…have carried out several studies, trying to figure out how a person gets scabies and have concluded the following:

HOW SCABIES IS SPREAD?

• People get scabies essentially by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with someone who has it already.
• The mites don’t fly.
• It may be transmitted when having sex if the partner had it.

You can get sarcoptic scabiei indirectly, even if you haven’t had a sexual relationship with an infected partner, by:

• Sharing clothes, towels.
• Sleeping in a hotel room where someone with scabies had previously slept in.

Definitely, there are other ways through which scabies spread, find out most of them within the next paragraphs.

IS SCABIES CONTAGIOUS?

Since mites are easily passed directly, to sexual partners and household members; or indirectly, when sharing personal items; we can say that scabies is a highly contagious skin disease. What makes sarcoptic scabiei more dangerous is that some people don’t show the symptoms for up to 2 months; however, they’re very likely to spread mites to others during this period of no symptoms.

WHERE DO SCABIES COME FROM!

Scabies essentially comes from direct skin to skin contact, or indirectly by sharing biding with a human host, since the mite may survive up to 72 hours without a host. However, this skin condition has nothing to do with poor hygiene, once you touch or use anything carrying mites, you become infected; regardless, you are rich, poor, or how much you care about your personal hygiene. What increases the risk of infestation is the crowded living conditions (child care facilities, Schools, Prisons, Nursing homes…).

CAN I GET THE MITES FROM HUGGING SOMEONE?

Usually, you will not get scabies by simply hugging an infected person, because the infection spreads if the contact is prolonged. However, there is a possibility that you will get scabies when hugging an infected person; so, we highly recommend avoiding direct contact with an infected person or anyone who has been in contact with it.

IS SCABIES CAUSED BY BEING DIRTY?

It is not a matter of being clean or dirty; it is a parasitic infection that may be transmitted to any person, whether he lives in the most luxurious residence in Los Angeles or New York or lives in a hut where there is no sanitation or drinking water in one of the poorest countries in the world. Sure, personal hygiene is important and helps to get rid of microbes and viruses, but scabies is a parasite that spreads through direct contact even if you are interested in hygiene; simply because the adult mites dig a hole under the skin, and then they lay eggs in it. Some water and soap will not kill it, as it’s not caused by poor hygiene. You will need creams and medical drugs to kill the mites and their eggs.

CAN SCABIES COME FROM SHARING CLOTHES?

Of course; if you are reckless, then all you have to do is to share some clothes or bedding with someone who has scabies. Days later, you will experience the most awful nights in your entire life because of itching, and the rash…

The conclusion: don’t ever share your personal items with someone suspected to have any skin condition.

TRANSMISSION FROM A TOILET SEAT:

It is a remote possibility, but there is room for discussion here; because, as we already mentioned, these creatures can live without a host for days. So, the possibility that you get scabies through the toilet seat remains probable.

SCABIES IN DAYCARE CENTERS

Scabies is widespread in daycare centers, as children love to play with their classmates and this leads to a lot of contacts. They may also share nap time mats and blankets, which may lead to the spread of the mite.

CAN YOU GET SCABIES FROM DOGS?

The type of mites that infect humans are called “Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis“. As for dog scabies, it is called “Sarcoptes scabiei var. Canis or Sarcoptic manage canine”; from the above, we conclude that the type of mites that infects humans is not the same as these infecting dogs. So if your dog is infected, don’t panic, your veterinarian will prescribe an appropriate treatment. Still; you may have some itching; again, do not worry, dogs’ scabies cannot live and reproduce in the human skin.

Find out more here.

CAN YOU GET MITES FROM A CAT!

Some as dogs, cats host a different species of mites, humans may experience a skin reaction and rash to contact non-human animal mites; but the cat mites will not survive on the human skin.

SCABIES FROM HOTEL

You could get scabies if you stay in a hotel room previously used by an infected person; because, the mites can survive in furniture, carpets, and bedding, for up to 72 hours away from human hosts. From now on, before booking, take your time reading the reviews of previous residents of the hotel.

CAN SCABIES SPREAD BY SWIMMING IN A PUBLIC POOL?

As for the transmission of mites through the water in a swimming pool, it is very uncommon and very rare. Swimming pools generally contain bleach, chlorine, and other substances, which kill mites instantly; however, if you share your clothes or the towel with a person with scabies in a pool or the beach, you are looking for troubles, my friend.

IS SCABIES AN STD? CAN I GET IT FROM SEX?

Not all the cases are transmitted by sex, it is a false idea to attach scabies to sex; it is not an STD (sexually transmitted disease), but we can consider it an STI (sexually transmitted infection); When making love, the two bodies are in close contact. This allows mites to travel from one body to another, to settle their new colony in the body of your sexual partner; after a few days or weeks, the partner will likely show signs of the infection if one of them has scabies already.