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Scabies.— This skin infection became prevalent
during the last quarter of the year. Eighty-one cases
were reported. Most of these were children in one
area of the Borough. Exclusion from school and
instruction as to treatment quickly reduced the spread
of infection. Six cases were complicated by septic
infection and required a few days of hospital treatment
Scabies is caused by a mite named Sarcoptes Scabiei.
The female burrows into the skin and lays its eggs,
which hatch in sixty-five hours. The larvæ thus produced
move over the skin and create new burrows,
where they reach maturity. It is this burrowing which
produces the intense itching, resulting in loss of sleep
and lowered capacity for work.
Spread is mainly by direct personal contact, and only
to a limited extent by clothing or bedding.
Treatment consists of hot baths during which the
whole of the skin of the body and limbs is
lathered with soap, and of scrubbing of the
burrows to expose the mite to the subsequent
application of sulphur ointment or of an emulsion
containing benzyl benzoate. The latter is preferable
as it is less likely to stain underclothing and
bedding. Sulphur ointment has to be applied after
baths on three or four successive nights. Benzyl benzoate
emulsion is a national formula and is applied
to the skin after hot baths on two successive nights
or on two occasions at an interval of a week. As soon
as treatment has become effective underclothing
shou'ld be changed and disinfected by boiling or soaking,
together with bed sheets, and night attire.
All persons suffering from "itch" which may be
due to scabies should seek medical advice without
delay.
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