There is concern in Crete after an entire school in Chania was closed due to outbreaks Norwegian scabies.
Norwegian scabies or scaling scabies is a severe form of the parasitic dermatosis and very contagious. It mainly occurs in immunocompromised patients and is transmitted from patient to patient but also through corrupt things.
It is estimated that up to 4,000 mites per gram of skin are affected. They often carry more than 1 million mites in total. If you consider that the vast majority of patients with classic scabies are usually infected with 10 to 20 mites, you immediately understand how serious Norwegian scabies is.
Preventive treatment with chemoprophylaxis
All of Chania is on its feet and the authorities are waiting for further instructions to see what they will do. However, at the moment there does not seem to be any transmission.
However, preventive treatment with pill chemoprophylaxis was prescribed for staff and students of the school.
Treatment for Norwegian scabies must be started immediately to prevent an outbreak.
Deaths related to scabies are rare, but it is not surprising that scabies infection can lead to fatal complications in some patients, CBS reports.
The symptoms
Patients with Norwegian scabies develop first red marks on the skin they develop into thick, hard plates» (hyperkeratotic plaques), which crumble easily under your hand and are accompanied by redness of the skin.
These plaques usually appear between the fingers, under the nails, on the soles and palms, on the elbows and knees.
Pruritus (itching) in Norwegian scabies may be minimal or absent.
How is it transmitted?
Scabies is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact with a person who is already infected with scabies or with contaminated objects.
Transmission can also occur by sharing clothes, towels and bedding (mattresses and bedclothes), if they are contaminated by an infected person and used by another person (indirect transmission).
Scabies is “Norwegian”. a more severe and contagious form of the disease, with an increased parasite load, which usually occurs in immunocompromised or elderly or debilitated people or disabled people, with the widespread presence of skin lesions (extensive presence of scaly-hyperkeratotic plaques, thickened “bumps”, scales), which can even be transmitted with short direct skin contact with the patient or with contaminated objects used by the patient (such as clothing, bedding, furniture).
To prevent the risk of transmission, it is necessary to thoroughly wash all surfaces and objects exposed to the patient. If an item cannot be washed, it should be placed in sealed plastic for 3 to 7 days. Sun exposure also effectively kills mites.
How is it dealt with?
Treatment for Norwegian scabies must start promptly and be aggressive to prevent an outbreak.
Treatment is usually with topical application of anti-psoriasis pesticides preparations. The anti-psoriasis skin treatment should be left on the body for the recommended time period before being removed with a cleansing bath, and clean clothing and bedding should be used after the treatment.
Depending on the anti-psoriasis preparation used, continuous smears/applications may be necessary, according to the instructions for use of the preparation and the instructions of the attending physician.
Prophylactic treatment must also be taken by all people who are considered to be in close contact with the sufferers, at the same time as the sufferers.
Norwegian scabies is treated with administered medication. However, patients are at increased risk of secondary bacterial infections, as well as relapse, due to their weakened immune system. Elderly patients are particularly at increased risk of serious complications, such as sepsis.