Scabies

[Mary]

Dear Dr.,
Have you ever had patients who were unable to clear up even after treating for scabies many times?  My son, husband and I have been fighting this for months.  We all treated twice with Eurax (prescribed by family Dr.)we followed directions to the letter, no relief.  Next my husband went to a dermatoligist, hr prescribed Elimite. I have treated now 4 times. My husband seemed to be better but had new itchy spots yesterday. My son has treated twice and rash continues to spread.  Any thoughts or suggestions?  We are at our wits end.

[NENA GOODWIN]

I had hard dry patches on my skin ,which at the time did not itch. It sounds crazy,but it started one morning I woke-up with my feet hurting so bad I could hardly walk. At first it like little shiver's of glass or some looked like splenters.So I picked and scrubed and soaked,but I guess all I did was spread it. So I went to a Dermatologist which diagnoised it as infected hair folicule's. I took antibiotics for week's and put an ointment on which wasn't doing any good. Then I found out from my daughter-n-law, that AShley my grandauter had been treated by two different docter that said ,she had ezema. My daughter-n-law keep telling the docter's that her and my son were broke out also. She called the DR. back after researching,and told them she thought she had scabbies. The DR. said there is nothing more I can do for you,and wanted them to wait a month to see a dermatologist. They had to go to the ER. for care and it was scabbies. So I called the dermatologist,that I had seen,she called me in a perscription for ACTICIN. My legs have almost cleared up,my arm are still pretty bad. I have like hard tiny crust on my eye lids,buttocks area. But I have seen dead black bugs,that look kind of like gnats.I put the medicine on every day, it seems now if I go 12hr. without the med. I start itching. When I get the hard crust soft,I can peelit off but there is white hard stuff that is in the center of the cicle.I have also done my scalpe in Kwell shampoo.A lot has cleared up, itis so embarrasing to go out.My oldest daughter just had a baby,she lives in another state and I will not go see the baby until I don't have any spots or sores on me. I  sure don't want to give any thing to a newborn. My face is worse.
   There's another piece of the puzzle. I have a dog which has the red mange. The scroptic mange mite which comes from his emune system not being able to fight it off,the vet. said the other dogs could not catch it,which sop far has been true. But if it can get in his blood ,can scabbies get itto my blood stream. Because it will seem like it is clearing up,and I geta cut or scrape off a hard crust and leaves a hollow little hole that seem to not want to clear up. PLEASE HELP ME! The dermatologist would barely take a glance. Should I go in and reqest a skin scrape? Thank you for time,I hope you can help me.

[Becky S.]

My family and I moved into a new apartment in August.  It was totally filthy and full of tiny spiders, flies, and fleas.  I (alone) bombed and cleaned it thoroughly.  After the first week, I was itchy and felt tiny "bugs" crawling on me, although you could not see them. After about 1 week I noticed tiny bumps showing up under my skin.  Just little tiny dots barely visible.  But by the second week, they were small "sores"  about the size of this O. They were on my upper left arm, under my left arm and down my left side.  I went to the Dr. and was treated with antibiotics and anti itch cream.  After 10 days of treatment, I now had them on my other arm and the front of my left thigh.  I was beginning to feel ill.  Flu like symptoms, fever, and pain in the left arm/breast area.  The Dr. gave me a lidex/10% salicidic acid ointment and sent me on my way.  It is now January, I have been treated for lichen planus, foliculitis, scabies and cutaneous vasculitis.  I am sick....feverish, fatiqued, chills, nightsweats and pain.  My skin is infected.  The sores are now the size of a dime and actually inverted alot!  I have seen 4 Dr's and have an appointment with a new one on Thursday.I live with my husband and son, both are ok.  Do you have any idea what this is? Does anyone??

[jen]

I'vw had this itchy rash for almost 6 months now. It started with a small patch of it above my belly button, it's now spread up my arms and now accross my chest. it's also behind my ears and spreading up into my hair. The doctors aren't sure what it is but think it might be scabies....any suggestions as to what it could be and what i can do to help???

[jen]

I'vw had this itchy rash for almost 6 months now. It started with a small patch of it above my belly button, it's now spread up my arms and now accross my chest. it's also behind my ears and spreading up into my hair. The doctors aren't sure what it is but think it might be scabies....any suggestions as to what it could be and what i can do to help???

[mandy]

About 4 weeks ago I had bites all over my neck and ears and a few on my shoulders. Then I found a few bugs which did look like lice. I went to the doctor he said i had body lice. so i treated myself, my husband and 1 year old baby (because of close contact). However I never treated my 6 year old because we don't have physical contact like I have with the baby.  now 4 weeks later I've done another treatment on me washed everything several times over and am still having problems. Now not once has anyone in the family showed any signs of this but me from the first time I started with this to now. But the clinice Doctors tell me I Have it. Please help me!

[Ron]

what are scabbies? what causes them?

[[email protected]]

There was no comments to our question.We would really like you to reply back.In regards to your email you sent on the sixth at 5:11 am  we did not find anything to help us.Please if you can help reply back.My husband has been to the doctor twice and he has used the medicine the doctor perscribed 5 times.we both used it this last time and the kwell shampoo too.the doctor perscribed lindane.The lady named Mary on this page said her doctor prescribed eurax and elimite.My husband has an appointment again with our doctor this coming thrusday do you think maybe he should ask the doctor about these other medicines.Please reply back as soon as possible

[[email protected]]

Please we are tormented by the scabie mite and can get no relieve my husband has been to the doctor twice and still haven't gotten rid of them please can you help us with a remedy

[Dr. Goldman]

The "physician" connected with this forum does not seem too concerned to either answer correctly or, in most circumstances , answer at all the concerns and questions posted. This is simply a pathetic means for the Dr. to advertise his practice. Pathetic........ and doing more harm than good.
PS......Yes scabies mites can indeed be seen by the human eye.

[Ann Jones]

My Sister is 36 Weeks pregnant, and she has developed a rash on her body which has spread all over her and is quite itchy, she has been pre-scribed diffent creams but nothing is working, she was with the doctor today and he said he thinks its scabies. I am concerned as my sister is living with me until her house is ready and I am getting married in Two weeks time.

Have you any preventions methods?

[Amy]

For the past month I have been waking up with new "bites" on my belly and groin area.I assumed they were mosquito or chigger bites but they happen too often.My toddler son has bites under his arms and at his diaper line.They feel like the itch of a chigger bite.This all started when I took my son to a public pool.They have a grassy and sandy area.I had bites all over my groin the next day.Could this be scabies??Also, can dogs get them???

[Ann]

For the past 2 months I have been itching like crazy.  I called my regular doctor only to be told I was allergic to latex.  I started to wear gardner gloves and I still itched.  A few weeks ago I had my yearly checkup with my GYN and he told me the same thing without even checking me for anything else.  I still am suffering and the itching is from head to toe.  No over the counter creams seem to help.  Two days ago I went and had my last hepatitis shot(required for my job) and I told the nurse of my simptoms and she asked if my stomach was itching.  I thought about scabbies when this first started but I can't figure out how I might have gotton this.  I am not sexually active and I haven't been for the past 3 or 4 years. Also I am very clean and take proper care of myself.  Is it possible to get this from my job?  I clean buildings for a living.  Thanks

[Ann]

For the past 2 months I have been itching like crazy.  I called my regular doctor only to be told I was allergic to latex.  I started to wear gardner gloves and I still itched.  A few weeks ago I had my yearly checkup with my GYN and he told me the same thing without even checking me for anything else.  I still am suffering and the itching is from head to toe.  No over the counter creams seem to help.  Two days ago I went and had my last hepatitis shot(required for my job) and I told the nurse of my simptoms and she asked if my stomach was itching.  I thought about scabbies when this first started but I can't figure out how I might have gotton this.  I am not sexually active and I haven't been for the past 3 or 4 years. Also I am very clean and take proper care of myself.  Is it possible to get this from my job?  I clean buildings for a living.  Thanks

[Dianna]

could i see a picture of scabbies

[NENA GOODWIN]

I had hard dry patches on my skin ,which at the time did not itch. It sounds crazy,but it started one morning I woke-up with my feet hurting so bad I could hardly walk. At first it like little shiver's of glass or some looked like splenters.So I picked and scrubed and soaked,but I guess all I did was spread it. So I went to a Dermatologist which diagnoised it as infected hair folicule's. I took antibiotics for week's and put an ointment on which wasn't doing any good. Then I found out from my daughter-n-law, that AShley my grandauter had been treated by two different docter that said ,she had ezema. My daughter-n-law keep telling the docter's that her and my son were broke out also. She called the DR. back after researching,and told them she thought she had scabbies. The DR. said there is nothing more I can do for you,and wanted them to wait a month to see a dermatologist. They had to go to the ER. for care and it was scabbies. So I called the dermatologist,that I had seen,she called me in a perscription for ACTICIN. My legs have almost cleared up,my arm are still pretty bad. I have like hard tiny crust on my eye lids,buttocks area. But I have seen dead black bugs,that look kind of like gnats.I put the medicine on every day, it seems now if I go 12hr. without the med. I start itching. When I get the hard crust soft,I can peelit off but there is white hard stuff that is in the center of the cicle.I have also done my scalpe in Kwell shampoo.A lot has cleared up, itis so embarrasing to go out.My oldest daughter just had a baby,she lives in another state and I will not go see the baby until I don't have any spots or sores on me. I  sure don't want to give any thing to a newborn. My face is worse.
   There's another piece of the puzzle. I have a dog which has the red mange. The scroptic mange mite which comes from his emune system not being able to fight it off,the vet. said the other dogs could not catch it,which sop far has been true. But if it can get in his blood ,can scabbies get itto my blood stream. Because it will seem like it is clearing up,and I geta cut or scrape off a hard crust and leaves a hollow little hole that seem to not want to clear up. PLEASE HELP ME! The dermatologist would barely take a glance. Should I go in and reqest a skin scrape? Thank you for time,I hope you can help me.

[Ann]

would a gyn. recognize the symptoms of scabbies.  I went for a yearly checkup and had all the symptoms and was told to use a antihistamine.  I was never examined.

[Linda]

I HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH SCABBIES AND I BELIEVE I AM COMING DOWN WITH IT NOW, IS THERE A NATUARAL ALTERNATIVE CURE OR SOMETHING OVER THE COUNTER I CANT GET WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Nope.

Dr. R

[Ian]

I too was convinced I had scabbies  come back  month after month ,having caught it off a friend and passed it around my familly It  seemed like It would never go away .I'm sure that the itch was not scabbies now,probably just me thinking about it  I used to itch most on my fingers and genital area ,despite many treatments . Can the mite be seen with out a microscope?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Mary:

I would be willing to wager that you don;t have scabies now, and perhaps never did.  Itchy rashes have many causes besides scabies, such as eczema or even nerves.  Applying Elimite to scabies will almost always clear it up in 1 week.  Persistence makes one need to question the original assumption.  Just thinking about scabies is enough to make everyone around itch and scratch.

Do yourselevs a favor--stop applying insecticides , changing linens, and laundering clothes.  See another dermatologist for another opinion!

Good luck.

Dr. R