During pregnancy, some women experience severe scabies, which does not pose any particular threat to the expectant mother and her baby. At the same time, this parasitic skin disease can greatly complicate the already difficult life of a woman in position. Is scabies dangerous during pregnancy or can it not be treated?
Main reasons
Definitely, this parasitic disease can only be caused by a scabies skin mite that feeds on dead cells of human skin. Itching on the skin appears due to the fact that the female of this tick at night digs vertical and also horizontal passages in the skin in search of a place where eggs can be laid. In those areas of the skin where the tick has settled, you can notice small crusts and vesicles. In addition, at night, and sometimes during the day, a woman may develop severe skin itching.
Naturally, such a parasitic skin disease does not appear in all pregnant women, but only in those whose immunity is greatly reduced. Scabies is transmitted almost instantly when using any household items of an infected person, as well as through direct contact. A pregnant woman can easily pick up scabies in public transport, in a sauna, in a bath, in a gynecological center.
Symptoms
Pregnancy for every woman is a rather difficult period, since she needs to be protected as much as possible from a variety of diseases. But in rare cases, a pregnant woman can get scabies, so you need to know about her symptoms in order to prevent the progression of the disease. Symptoms of scabies depend mainly on its shape.
The first signs of the disease appear approximately 2 weeks after infection. Usually small acne forms on the skin between the fingers between the fingers. When pressed, a clear liquid may leak out. Further, small blisters can appear in the folds of the elbows, armpits, on the mammary glands, feet and genitals. With the further development of the disease, tick-borne passages and small holes become noticeable, thanks to which the tick breathes while under the skin.
The strokes are pale gray elevations that can have a length of about 1 cm. As a result of a scabies mite, a woman experiences itching, which undoubtedly causes discomfort. In particular, itching becomes quite severe at night.
A bacterial infection can join the combs, and pyoderma develops. Sometimes scabies is complicated by the defeat of certain organs, the appearance of abscesses and boils. It is worth noting that scabies are not dangerous for the fetus, but there is still a risk of infection during childbirth.
Diagnostics
If the expectant mother has severe itching on the skin, which intensifies in the evening, then she should immediately seek qualified medical help. The specialist first conducts an initial examination and on the basis of which he will make a preliminary diagnosis. In addition, a number of laboratory tests are required.
Diagnosis of scabies during pregnancy is no different from the method for identifying it in an adult. When visiting a doctor, a scraping will be taken from the affected areas of the skin. Scabies is considered established in case of detection of ticks, their larvae and waste products.
Another equally popular method for detecting such an unpleasant disease is the use of iodine. Usually a few drops are enough, which are applied directly to the affected skin. If severe itching is associated precisely with ticks, then their moves will immediately become noticeable. This method is considered the safest for women expecting a baby.
Once all laboratory tests have been received, the doctor may prescribe the appropriate treatment. Usually, in this case, the most gentle drugs are preferred.
Risks and Complications
If the disease was detected at an early stage of development, then it can not entail any consequences for the health of the future mother. Of course, not everyone succeeds in preventing the development of complications, which often appear in the form of boils on the surface of the skin. Gradually, without the absence of suitable treatment, this problem becomes dermatitis. If an infection penetrates the wound, the situation becomes more complicated, because another concomitant disease begins. Such a development of events has a danger to the unborn child.
Women need to know the effects of scabies during pregnancy. Indeed, without the right treatment, they suffer from severe itching of the skin, which provokes the development of feelings of anxiety and nervousness. This condition is aggravated in the evening, which has a negative effect on sleep. As a result, the expectant mother sleeps extremely restlessly and wakes up many times during the night. This causes insomnia, which has extremely negative consequences for the mother and her baby. As a result of tick activation, the skin becomes less resistant to other diseases. We are talking about dermatitis or boils. If the case is too neglected, then pustules begin to appear on the surface of the epidermis.
How to treat scabies during pregnancy?
In the treatment of scabies in pregnant women, medications are called the main treatment drugs. It is very important that the doctor prescribes drugs that will not harm the child and provoke a miscarriage. Usually, the following medications are recommended for women during pregnancy.
Spregal
Spregal is the most popular and commonly used gel in which pyrethrin is the active ingredient. It differs from many other agents by its high activity and low toxicity, which contributes to the more rapid destruction of the scabies mite.
Wilkinson Ointment
Wilkinson ointment is a combination drug that has antiparasitic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and antiseptic effects. Ointment for scabies during pregnancy, the photo of which is below, is quite effective.
Tar and oil
Tar improves epidermal regeneration, blood supply to tissues and keratinization. Naftalan oil, which is part of this ointment, has a slight analgesic, disinfectant, absorbable and softening effect.
Benzyl benzoate
Benzyl benzoate is a water-soap solution with the addition of a small amount of anestezin and dichlorodiphenyl trichloromethylmethane. The use of benzyl benzoate should be calculated over the entire life cycle of the tick: a single use leads to the death of active ticks, but the eggs remain intact. Therefore, it must be used regularly.
Other drugs
“Ivermectin”, “Crotamion”, “Lindane” are quite effective medications, which, however, for pregnant women have some contraindications, therefore, they are prescribed quite rarely.
The most safe drugs for women during pregnancy have been given above. With very severe itching, which causes great discomfort, antihistamines such as Desloratadine and Levocetirizine can be attributed to a woman.
Alternative treatment
Nowadays, doctors recommend very effective folk methods that help a pregnant woman get rid of scabies.
- Sulfur ointment: you need to take a tablespoon of sulfur, melted lard, tar and laundry soap. All ingredients are well mixed and boiled for half an hour in a water bath. After this, the ointment is applied for a week to the affected skin.
- Warm up in a water bath for half an hour 500 ml of mustard oil and 100 g of garlic, cool the mixture and apply it for at least seven days on the body.
- Elecampane root should be chopped and mixed with melted lard, keep the mixture for 30 minutes in a water bath, cool, and add a tablespoon of tar to it. Affected skin can be treated three times a day until a complete cure occurs. The product is washed off with tar soap and warm water.
- Turpentine ointment: for its preparation, you need to take 2 parts of butter, and 1 part of turpentine. The ointment is applied morning and evening.
- In 1 liter of boiling water, insist an equal amount of green fruits and leaves of nuts, cool and apply to affected areas of the skin.
In parallel with folk treatment, you need to regularly disinfect all rooms. It is recommended to use these methods after consultation with the doctor, so that the tool does not cause a risk of complications and is guaranteed to fit.
Prevention
Decreased immunity during pregnancy is a common occurrence. Thus, even when planning conception, it is very important to strengthen the body and take vitamins. In confronting the infection, immunity itself plays an important role in most situations. Try not to be with sick people indoors, thereby protecting yourself from the risk of contracting scabies.
Be careful with people who have had contact with scabies. They can be carriers of infection. Observe personal hygiene, this will be a significant prevention of the disease. Make it your rule to wash your hands as often as possible. During pregnancy, it will be appropriate to use a special disinfecting aerosol that is convenient to use at any time.
If in the family one of the members was sick with scabies, in this case it is necessary to thoroughly disinfect not only the dwelling. This also applies to individual items of the patient. Otherwise, the tick will remain on the interior and furniture.