scabies medicine
Scabies Medicine
Scabies medicines are designed to kill the scabies eggs to prevent continued infestation. When the eggs are killed the scabies will be cured if the person has taken the measures to clean their home including the bedding clothing and furniture to remove any scabies that may be living in the areas.
The frequently prescribed medication is a cream that kills the mite and the eggs. Anti-itch medications help to reduce the symptoms of itching that often spread the mites throughout the body. The anti-itch medications are used in combination of the creams for a higher level of relief.
Permethrin Cream 5% is the frequent medication used for curing scabies. This extremely strong medicine is designed to kill both the eggs and mites. It is safe enough to use on children 2 years and older. It replaces the lindane medicine that has side effects of seizures and dizziness. Permethrin is applied over the entire body with more attention to the areas of the body with extra skin or folds and between the toes and fingers since that is the main places scabies will infect frequently.
The cream is to be applied to dry clean skin. It is suggest clipping the fingernails and toenails before application of the cream. The cream is left on the skin for 10-14 hours then removed with a warm shower. One suggestion is to apply the cream prior to going to bed then showering in the morning.
Ivermectin is an oral medicine used to cure scabies. The pill is highly effective but not recommended for pregnant or nursing women or small children. It is often prescribed in cases where the patient has the crusted skin since Permethrin is not as effective on the healing sores. Extensive skin care is required in cases with crusted healing sores since at that point of the infestation the scabies is generally more progressed and harder to cure.
All members of the home close contacts and sexual partners are to be treated even if they are not showing symptoms of scabies. They have been in contact with scabies which in most situations will eventually breakout with scabies. This principle is true for children in daycare or school as well anyone that is institutionalized in prison or a nursing facility. As a rule anyone that has had contact with a person with scabies will need to be treated to reduce the growth of infestation.
Sometimes the skin that has been scratched becomes infected with sores that form puss or become red and warm. This is another medical condition other than scabies and is generally a bacterial infection that requires an oral antibiotic or an antibiotic ointment for the affected areas.
