General Nursing©

SCABIES (Skin Problem)

In patients with skin problem, it is important that nurses should prevent transmission of the disease to other patients. It is necessary to practice good hand washing technique or wear gloves when touching the patient; observe wound and skin precautions for 24 hours after treatment with a pediculicide; gas autoclave blood pressure cuffs before using them on other patients is non infectious; and thoroughly disinfect the patient's room after discharge.

Skin problem such as scabies is a parasitic infestation of the skin, marked by small gray or red lines, on the skin that are intensely itchy, especially at night. The lines are burrow made by mite, where the females lay their eggs; the entire reproductive cycle takes only five days. The mites, like moist areas, e.g., armpits, in between fingers, and genital. Direct contact with an infested person easily spreads the parasite, although the condition is not serious. Scabies is thus common in over-crowded living quarters.

Symptoms:

• Tiny, red lumps, on the fingers, hands, wrists, armpits, upper back, grains, genitals, buttocks, and toes.
• Gray or red lines on the skin (burrows where the mites lay their eggs).
• Intense, generalized itch, which is often worse at night.
• Sores and scabs due to scratching.

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