DE LA SALLE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES INSTITUTE

Dasmariñas City, Cavite

College of Nursing

SCABIES (ECTOPARASITIC DISEASE)

Microbiology & Parasitology

Mecharrafie, Zehana Shecka

BSN 1-3

A Written Report Presented To

Mrs. Julieta M. Damian, RN, MSN & Ms. Trisha Mae P. Medrano, RN

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement

in Microbiology and Parasitology
July 2024
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. TABLE OF CONTENTS
II. SCABIES
A. Microbial/Parasitic Disease Definition……………………………………………………3

B. Causative Agents……………………………………..………………...……………………3

C. Risk Factors & Mode of Transmission…………………….……………………………..3

D. Incubation Period, Signs & Symptoms, Complications………………………………4

E. Diagnostic/Screening Tests…………………………………………………………….….4

F. Prevention……………………………………………………………………...……………..4

G. Treatment & Management…………………………………………………………...……..5

H. Nursing Responsibilities……………………………………………………………..…….5

I. References…………………………………………………………………………………….5
 A. MICROBIAL/PARASITIC DISEASE DEFINITION
SCABIES
Scabies is derived from a latin word “scabere” which means to scratch. It is a medical condition
that involves intense itchiness of the skin, typically nocturnal, and is due to a very small
burrowing termite. It’s a contagious skin disease which can rapidly spread through close
physical contact. It is not an infection, but rather an infestation. The rash or burrow appear on
the skin, often on skin folds like armpits, waist, elbows, soles, and buttocks, as tiny lines that
are sometimes grayish or brown and can be a centimeter in length.
Types of Scabies Definition

Classic/Typical Scabies This is the most common infestation of

scabies. It causes an itchy rash on the hands,
wrist, & other common spots
Nodular Scabies This type of scabies may develop around the
genitals, armpits, and groin. They develop
itchy, raised bumps or lumps, and usually in
children.
Norwegian Scabies A rare type of scabies also called Crusted
scabies is a more severe & contagious type
where people develop thick skin crusts that
has thousands of mites and eggs. This
condition is also life threatening.

GOOD TO KNOW
Races of mites found on animals may cause self-limited infestation on humans with temporary
itching due to dermatitis; however, it is unlikely for them to multiply on a human host.

B. CAUSATIVE AGENTS
Sarcoptes scabiei (also known as the human itch mite) is in the arthropod class Arachnida, subclass
Acari, family Sarcoptidae. The mites burrow into the upper layer of the skin but never below the stratum
corneum (outermost layer of epidermis). They are also nocturnal pruritis.

Sarcoptes scabiei undergo 4 stages in its life cycle. Egg, Larva, Nymph, & Adult. Eggs are oval and
hatches in 3-4 days to become a larvae and eventually turn to nymph with 4 pairs of legs that would
then turn into an adult sac-like eyeless mites. These mites can also survive outside a host and remain
infectious for 24 to 36 hours at normal room temperature.

C. RISK FACTORS & MODE OF TRANSMISSION

I. RISK FACTORS
 Children
 Crowded spaces such as classrooms, nursing homes, prisons, and care
facilities.
 Sharing clothes, towels, and beddings
 Occupation such as care givers and healthcare workers without proper
equipment
  Sexually active adults
II. MODE OF TRANSMISSION
 Direct contact – skin to skin contact with an infected person
 Sharing of clothes, towels, and beddings of an infected person

D. INCUBATION PERIOD, SIGNS & SYMPTOMS, COMPLICATIONS

 INCUBATION PERIOD – Scabies is easily passed. It takes about 5-10
minutes of direct skin to skin contact for the mite to pass from an infected host
to another. The female Sarcoptes scabiei mite lives for around 8 weeks and
can continue to lay eggs. The first time you have scabies, it can take four to
eight weeks for symptoms to appear. If you've previously had a scabies
infection, symptoms typically emerge within four days after exposure.
 SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
 The signs and symptoms of scabies could be delayed in appearance and
may take 4- 6 weeks to appear after exposure
 Itching
 Pimple-like rash
 Tiny bumps or blisters
 Tiny lines called burrows
 COMPLICATIONS
 Secondary bacterial infection- Impetigo or other skin conditions may result
from vigorous scratching due to scabies.
 Norwegian Scabies – classic scabies can turn into crusted scabies, which
is the more severe type.
 Septicaemia/sepsis – a bloodstream infection

E. DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING TESTS

 Burrow Ink Test – A burrow can be located by rubbing a washable marker across the
suspected site and wiping it with an alcohol. When a burrow is present, the ink will
penetrate the stratum corneum and delineates the site.
 Tetracycline – Topical tetracycline solution is an alternative to burrow ink test. After the
application & removal of tetracycline solution, the burrow is examined under a wood light, it
will fluoresce a greenish color, this is used to examine large areas of the skin.
 Microscopic Examination – The burrow on the skin is scraped longitudinally & laterally
across with a scalpel blade to identify a present mite, eggs, or scybala (fecal pellets)
 Adhesive tape test – Strips of tape are used to areas suspecting of burrows and then
rapidly pulled off.
 GOLD STANDARD DIAGNOSIS – Dermatoscopy is the most accurate way of examining
a skin for scabies. It is also the simplest and fastest method of determining a pathogen at
high magnification.

F. PREVENTION
a. Avoid getting direct contact with someone infected with scabies
b. Avoid sharing items such as towels, beddings, and clothes
c. Know your sexual partner
d. Know your environmental risk factor
 G. TREATMENT & MANAGEMENT
 Topical Creams & lotions – topical creams and lotions will be prescribed by the
doctor & must be applied from neck down the soles of the feet and must be left for
8-10 hours.
 Samples: Nix (permethrin) 5% cream / sulfur (5%-10%) cream
 Anti-parasitic medications – specific oral anti-parasitic medication can be given
to patients with Norwegian scabies or crusted scabies or those with poor immune
system, however these may not be suitable for pregnant women, children, and
elderly.
 Antihistamines – Over-the-counter antihistamine can help relieve itching
 Home remedies – there are a lot of home remedies for scabies but these will not
ensure a treatment, it can however, minimize the symptoms and this includes:
calamine lotions, oatmeal bath, tea tree oil, and aloe vera.

H. NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES
 Assess the patient’s skin on his/her whole body.
 Educate the patient about proper wound hygiene through washing sores with soap and
water
 Advise the patient to prevent from scratching the affected areas
 Teach the patient some home remedies for asymptomatic management
 Assist the patient in applying topical medications and in removing of scabs.

I. REFERENCES
Scabies Symptoms, Cause, Treatments. (n.d.). WebMD
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-scabies-overview

CDC - DPDX - Scabies. (n.d.).

https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/scabies/index.html

Coffee, M., MD. (2023, May 31). What causes scabies? Verywell Health
https://www.verywellhealth.com/scabies-causes-and-risk-factors-1958955

Sunderkötter, C., Wohlrab, J., & Hamm, H. (2021). Scabies: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

Deutsches Ärzteblatt International.

https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0296

Johnson, S. (2024, May 21). Everything you need to know about scabies. Healthline.

https://www.healthline.com/health/scabies#takeaway

Giorgi, A. (2022, November 17). How contagious is scabies? Verywell Health.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-contagious-is-scabies-5409278
A WRITTEN REPORT ABOUT PEDICULOSIS

A Culminating Activity Presented to

Ma’am Julieta M. Damian and Ma’am Trisha Mae P. Medrano
College of Nursing

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement

in Microbiology and Parasitology

Monzon, Luis Carlo M.

BSN 1-3
July, 2024
A.Microbial/Parasitic disease definition

Pediculosis
An ectoparasitic disease that is also known as lice infestation, it is the infestation of lice, lice larvae, and/or
lice eggs on the hairy parts of the body of humans that can easily be transmitted during direct contact. The
crawling stages of lice feed on human blood, which is the reason why lice cause itching. There are three
forms of pediculosis, depending on the type of lice.

Forms of Pediculosis
Pediculosis capitis Infestation of the scalp by head lice or Pediculus
humanus capitis, it is commonly seen in female
children.

Pediculosis corporis Infestation of the body by the body lice or

Pediculus humanus corporis, it is commonly seen
in individuals with poor hygiene and individuals that
live in crowded areas.

Pediculosis pubis Infestation of the pubic area by pubic lice or

Phthirus pubis, it is commonly seen in sexually
active individuals.

Lice
Tiny and wingless insects that feed on either animal or human blood, but lice that infest animals typically do
not infest humans. Lice can easily spread from person to person during direct contact, there are three types
of lice, which are: head lice, body lice, and pubic lice.

Types of Lice
Head Lice Head lice are lice that feed on blood on the human
scalp. Head lice mostly affect children, this is why
head lice are common in school settings.

Body Lice Body lice are lice that live in clothing and bedding
that travel to the body to feed on blood. Body lice
are most common in places that are crowded and
unhygienic.

Pubic Lice Pubic lice or crabs are lice that live on the pubic
hair near the genitals. Pubic lice are most common
in sexually active individuals.
B. CAUSATIVE AGENTS
Pediculosis capitis For Pediculosis capitis, Pediculus humanus capitis
or head lice are the causative agent.

Pediculosis corporis For Pediculosis corporis, Pediculus humanus

corporis or body lice are the causative agent.

Pediculosis pubis For Pediculosis pubis, Phthirus pubis or pubic lice

are the causative agent.

C. RISK FACTORS AND MODE OF TRANSMISSION

Risk Factors Mode of Transmission

● Close and direct personal contact Head lice: Vehicle transmission (fomites)
● Sharing of personal items
● Lack of proper hygiene Body lice: Vehicle transmission (fomites)
● Crowded living conditions
● Sexual activities Pubic lice: Direct contact transmission (sexual
activities)

D. INCUBATION PERIOD, SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS, COMPLICATIONS (DISTINCT SIGNS AND

SYMPTOMS)

Incubation Period
The incubation period starts from the time when the lice eggs or nits are laid, up until the time that they are
hatched, which takes about 7-10 days.

Signs and Symptoms

● Intense itching
● Tickling feeling
● Irritation
● Red bumps
● Rashes
● Sores
● Visible lice
● Visible nits (lice eggs)
● Blue spots (maculae ceruleae)
Complications
Trench Fever Trench fever is a relapsing and acute febrile
disease that lasts for 2-4 days, it is transmitted by
body lice.

Impetigo A highly contagious bacterial skin infection that is

characterized by red sores that rupture and form a
yellow-brown crust.

Typhus A serious bacterial infection that causes fever and

is transmitted by body lice in rare occasions when
body lice infestation is severe.

Cellulitis A common but potentially serious bacterial skin

infection. In cellulitis, the affected skin is swollen,
inflamed, and typically painful and warm to the
touch.

Relapsing Fever An infectious disease characterized by recurrent

episodes of fever. Relapsing fever can also be a
complication resulting from pediculosis.

E. DIAGNOSTIC/SCREENING TESTS (GOLD STANDARD)

Visual Inspection
Considered the gold standard because it allows for easy and immediate identification of live lice crawling
and lice eggs whilst having little to no cost.

F. PREVENTION
Avoid sharing of personal items Pediculosis can easily transfer from one person to
another when sharing personal items such as:
combs, brushes, clothes, hats, towels,
accessories, ETC.

Maintain good personal hygiene Maintaining good personal hygiene is a must to

prevent pediculosis. Regular hair washing, bathing,
handwashing, and cleaning of personal items are
some of the many ways to maintain good personal
hygiene.
Regularly wash clothing and bedding Regularly washing clothing and bedding will help
lessen lice spread. Regularly washing clothing and
bedding with hot water and then drying them on
high heat properly will also help in minimizing the
spread of lice.

Avoid close head-to-head contact Pediculosis spreads through direct contact, so

avoiding close head-to-head contact will help
prevent pediculosis. When there is distance from a
person with pediculosis and a person without, lice
cannot fly, jump, nor crawl from one person to
another.

Separate own belongings Separating one’s own belongings can help prevent
pediculosis because lice can transfer from one
object to another.

Practice safe sex Practicing safe and hygienic sex will greatly lessen
the spread of pubic lice because pubic lice spreads
when the pubic hair of two individuals come in
contact with each other during sexual activities.

Learn proper hair management Learning proper hair management will help
maintain clean and less hospitable conditions for
lice. Proper hair management includes regular
washing of hair with shampoo and keeping hair
properly groomed.

Avoid crowded places Avoiding crowded places will help lessen the
spread of pediculosis because it spreads through
direct contact.

G. TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Treatment When pediculosis is too severe, pediculosis can be
treated with over-the-counter medications that are
proven to be effective, such as permethrin and
pyrethrin-based shampoos.

Management Improving hygiene is a simple yet effective way to

manage pediculosis. The doing of simple everyday
tasks in a hygienic manner will greatly lessen the
odds of pediculosis. Manual removal of lice and
 nits is also a great way to be hygienic and treat
pediculosis.

H. NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES
● Assess patients for lice and nits
● Educate patients about lice prevention
● Monitor and assess patients’ lice situation
● Promote good hygiene to patients

I. REFERENCES
Pediculosis (lice, head lice, body lice, pubic lice, cooties, crabs). (n.d.).

https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/pediculosis/fact_sheet.htm#:~:text=Pediculosis

%20is%20an%20infestation%20of,lice%20along%20seams%20of%20clothing.

CDC - DPDX - Pediculosis. (n.d.).

https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/pediculosis/index.html

Lice - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. (2022, June 30). Mayo Clinic.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lice/symptoms-causes/syc-20374399

Lice | Public Health and Medical Entomology | Purdue | Biology | Entomology | Insects | Ticks | Diseases

Monitoring | Control | Hot Topics | Agriculture | Extension. (n.d.).

https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publichealth/insects/louse.html

Millar, H. (2022, December 23). 7 tips to help prevent lice.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-prevent-lice

Treating and Preventing Head Lice (n.d.). FDA.

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/treating-and-preventing-head-lice#:~:text=Teac

h%20children%20not%20to%20share,for%205%20to%2010%20minutes.
Pediculosis capitis (n.d.). UpToDate.

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pediculosis-capitis

Head lice - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic. (2022, April 30). Mayo Clinic.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-lice/symptoms-causes/syc-20356180

Brouqui, P. (2020). Trench Fever. In Elsevier eBooks (pp. 602–603).

https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-55512-8.00072-7

The Healthline Editorial Team. (2018, September 29). Head lice Prevention. Healthline.

https://www.healthline.com/health/lice/head-lice-prevention

Cameron, K. (2024, May 5). What are lice? How do you know if you have them? WebMD.

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/skin-conditions-lice