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How To Isolate And Care For A Child With Scabies
Parents have enough on their plates without
having to worry about their child getting sick. Unfortunately, your kids will
pick up a cold or bug at least once a year, which is normal and easy to treat
with rest. However, there are still more serious illnesses out there that you
should be mindful of, like scabies.
No parent wants to think about a scenario
like this, but it is still important to be prepared for such a reality. This
article will provide you with a comprehensive guide to scabies in children,
while also focusing on how to properly isolate and care for a child with this
disease.
What Is Scabies
Scabies is a disease that is caused by the
itch mite, also known as Sarcoptes. These mites are a parasitic life form that
can burrow under the skin and lay eggs. Since this disease is transmitted
through a living organism, it is extremely easy to pass the condition from
person to person through direct skin-to-skin contact. That is why isolation is
crucial for people that contract scabies.
Scabies Symptoms
Scabies will first present themselves by
causing a severe itch that soon breaks out into a rash. This pimply rash can
remain concentrated in one area, usually the place the mite entered the skin.
However, it is also likely that the rash expands all over the body after a short
period.
This level of itching and soreness is
enough to drive people toward medical treatment straight away, which means that
there are only a few cases where the disease has persisted for longer than a
few weeks. If you do have scabies for longer than this, it is possible to
contract septicaemia or heart disease.
Scabies In Children
It is highly common for young children to
contract scabies due to the amount of time they spend socializing with other
children. What’s more, children of pre-school age are not aware of the dangers
of direct skin-to-skin contact with their peers, which means that they are
unable to shield themselves from the cause.
Fortunately, it is easier to spot scabies
in smaller children due to their size and the smoothness of their skin. A
single blister could be all it takes to draw your attention toward the illness,
and this protrusion may also be surrounded by noticeable
burrow marks. This initial blister will eventually spread into a rash,
which will also inform you of the disease. Furthermore, younger children may
display earlier signs of the disease with a lack of appetite or extreme
fidgeting.
If your child displays any of these
symptoms, it is important to contact your doctor from a remote location
immediately. They will be able to provide you with the correct course of
treatment, which should take a few weeks to administer.
Isolating Your Child
Since scabies is a highly transmissible
disease, your first course of action should be to isolate your child. Medical
guidelines suggest that a person with scabies should be confined to a single
room for at least twenty-four hours to stop others from becoming infected.
However, a child cannot fend for themselves, which is why you must also take
precautions when taking care of them. Therefore, anyone else that lives with
the child should refrain from leaving the house. You should contact anyone that
may have also been in contact with your child before you discovered the rash so
that they too can get their children diagnosed if necessary.
Daily Routines
As a parent, you still need to perform your
daily
childcare duties. This involves feeding, clothing, and bathing your child.
However, you still need to take care of yourself. That is why you should wear as
much protection as possible to prevent direct skin-to-skin contact. Arm-length
rubber gloves are a good start, and you should also wash any clothing or
bedding the child has recently used. It is normal for parents to receive the
same treatment for scabies as their child, but you should still try to prevent
yourself from getting the disease if you can help it. It would also help to
conduct a deep clean of the house when the opportunity presents itself. Only by
protecting yourself properly are you giving yourself the best chance to
adequately care for your child.
Avoid Scratching
The hardest part of having scabies is the
extreme itching. The natural human response to this condition is scratching;
however, this will only make the condition worse. Scratching will open the skin
and leave it prone to a bacterial infection. As an adult, you have enough
resilience to prevent this outcome and refrain from scratching. Unfortunately,
young children cannot rationalise, which leaves them vulnerable when they have scabies.
There are many ways to prevent your child
from scratching. The first is providing them with a distraction. Try to make
sure they are playing games or watching T.V while they are forced into
isolation and provide them with plenty of company. You can also help them by
cutting their fingernails to stop them from damaging their skin when they do
scratch and use a cold compress to stave off the itchy sensations.
Bathing
Hygiene is an important part of treatment
for most illnesses. However, this everyday activity can be extremely difficult
when your child is experiencing the discomfort that comes from having scabies.
The best way to approach bath time during
this period is by soaking your child in lukewarm water for under ten minutes
just before bedtime, as this is when their skin will be at its most irritated.
Then, dry them with a soft towel by dabbing the skin rather than rubbing it.
Next, apply a moisturiser to the skin and leave it to soak in before placing
the child on any blankets to prevent them from sticking to its surface.
Treatment
The only way to get rid of scabies is by
killing the mites that have caused the rash. This involves getting a medicated
cream from the doctor. They will have this medicine delivered straight to your
door after instructing you to rub this lotion on their skin every night before
bed. You must cover every part of the skin, including the parts that are not
affected by the rash. Most doctors will tell adults to avoid putting the cream
on their face, but it is fine to apply the medication to this part of the body
with a child if you avoid getting it in their eyes and mouth. Also, don’t
forget to rub it into the scalp where possible.
Duration
The main symptoms of scabies should
disappear within a few weeks. There is no definitive length of time when it
comes to scabies. However, you can get them checked out by the doctor again,
and they should let you lift the household isolation once all signs of the rash
have gone. Unfortunately, it is possible for your child to feel the itching
sensation for a couple of weeks after all the mites have been eradicated and
they are no longer contagious. Therefore, you should continue with the same
anti-itching routine you have undergone before until everything settles.
Conclusion
There is no denying that scabies is a truly uncomfortable illness, especially for a young child. However, you can improve the situation by following the correct advice.
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