Contenido:

SKIN PARASITES (SCABIES, LICE)

SCABIES

It is a skin infection caused by scabies acarina, which causes a rash (skin lesions) with severe itching. It is very contagious and is transmitted by intimate body contact, as, for example, by sleeping in the same bed.

Parasites prefer soft and thin skin areas, such as folds between the fingers, Anterior side of the wrist, buttocks, genitalia or breast skin folds, although others may be affected as well. The skin on the head and neck is preserved. The symptoms are more noticeable when the patient is lying down. They cause lesions, small grooves and red spots on one end, which are only visible with a magnifying glass, unless there are other lesions.

The patient must wash all his body with water and soap, dry it and rub lindane + benzyl benzoate (DRAWER 10, first aid kit A) all over the body (even the soles of the feet), except the face and scalp. Do not shower for 24 hours. Sometimes, a second treatment may be necessary after a week.

La ropa interior y la ropa de cama deben lavarse, hervirse si es posible, y plancharlas a una temperatura alta.

LICE

In the head, the most affected areas are the posterior and lateral. Parasites may be seen there but not in the body, where they only go to feed themselves.

In case of head lice a home made method can be tried: damp and rub the head with warm vinegar and wrap with a towel; leave for an hour. Lice must be removed with a narrow toothcomb, while nits must be removed one by one.

The treatment for crab lice infestation will be similar to that described for scabies. In this case, wet the pubis hairs and rub with a spoonful of lindane emulsion (refer to SCABIES); do not wash until 24 hours later. Repeat the treatment in a week.

In case of body lice, boil the infested clothes.