Scabies is a contagious skin condition that is caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. This mite uses its front legs and mouth to burrow into the outermost layer of the skin, or the epidermis. When it burrows, a mite then lays its eggs. Scabies is highly uncomfortable and, even with effective treatment, can cause symptoms that last anywhere from two weeks to two months. For this reason, it may be beneficial to familiarize yourself with the risk factors of scabies and what you can do to prevent contracting mites.
In most cases, scabies is spread through prolonged, direct, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. It cannot be stressed enough that contact must be prolonged, meaning ongoing for quite a bit of time. Scabies mites typically do not jump from one person to the next during a brief hug or handshake. In adults, scabies is frequently spread through sexual contact. In younger persons, scabies is often spread between siblings or classmates who sit next to one another. Scabies is also spread between household members who share towels, bedding, furniture and articles of clothing. However, this latter type of transmission is rare. When transmission via surface contact does occur, it is most likely to occur when the infected person has open or crusted-over scabs.
You can spread scabies as soon as you become infected with it and before you receive treatment. This is true even if you do not yet have symptoms of the condition. In fact, symptoms typically take between four to eight weeks to develop, but you can be contagious long before that.
Again, scabies is spread through prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Given this information, it is unlikely that you will contract the condition from a swimming pool. Also, given that only between 10 and 15 mites are present on an infected person at any one time, the risk of transmission via a swimming pool is even less likely.
That said, transmission through a swimming pool is not out of the question. If an infected person goes swimming, there is a slight chance a mite may find you. That chance increases if the infected person goes swimming with open scabs or wounds, and/or if you share a towel, chair, article of clothing or some other item with the infected person.
No, your pet cannot give you scabies. Though pets and other animals are susceptible to different types of scabies mites, these mites cannot reproduce or survive on humans. When they do infect animals, the condition the animal develops is called “mange.” If you were to come into contact with an animal that has mange, the mites may burrow under your skin and cause brief itching and irritation. However, because it cannot reproduce on humans, it will die within a few days without treatment. That said, though you do not require treatment, you should seek veterinary car for your pet.
Scabies outbreaks can occur anywhere in the world and among just about any population, regardless of cleanliness, socioeconomic status or other factors. That said, the condition is most common in places that are densely populated but that lack easy access to medical care. It is also common in nurseries, nursing homes and schools. Additionally, parts of the world that are tropical or subtropical have higher rates of scabies, such as the following:
When scabies outbreaks occur in the U.K., they are most likely to occur in the winter. Researchers suspect this is due to the fact that many people hole up in the winter months and, therefore, are frequently in close contact with one another.
You can prevent scabies by following a few simple guidelines upon diagnosis. Those are as follows:
If you have scabies, you most likely contracted it from a sexual partner or household member with whom you have close direct contact. For this reason, if you or a loved one gets diagnosed with scabies, seek treatment right away. In the meantime, avoid direct contact with others or the infected person until your doctor determines you no longer have mites.