Nov 10, 2008 9:12 am US/Pacific
Dr. Mallika's Files: Case Of The Itchy Rash
BOSTON (CBS) ―
-
-
Mallika Marshall, M.D., shares experiences highlighting medical cases.
WBZ
Dr. Mallika Marshall is the medical reporter for CBS station WBZ-TV in Boston and a regular contributor to the CBS Early Show. Trained as both a pediatrician and internist, Marshall currently treats patients at an urgent care clinic near Boston. Names and identifiable characteristics of patients have been omitted or changed to protect patient privacy.
This Week's Case
A 2-year-old girl is brought in by her parents saying that the child has had an itchy rash for over a week. It started as a few red bumps on her wrist but has now spread to other parts of her body. She has been scratching a lot. She has no other symptoms…no fever, cough, diarrhea, or vomiting. She's been eating well and other than the rash, seems fine. The child has not been taking any new medications, eating new foods, or using any new soaps or detergents. She has no known allergies.
Upon further questioning, her mom has developed a few similar itchy bumps on her abdomen. The family was recently evicted from their home has been staying with relatives for the past few weeks.
On exam, the child has multiple red bumps on her trunk, arms, legs, armpits and groin. Her face is spared.
Analysis
Based on history and physical exam, this child clearly had scabies. Scabies are tiny bugs that burrow under the skin and cause little red bumps and intense itching. The rash usually begins between the fingers or on the creases of the wrists and spreads to the waistline, genital area, armpits, and other areas of the body. They usually do not cause a rash on the face. Scabies are highly contagious and usually affect more than one family member.
You can "catch" scabies by coming into direct contact with someone who already has it or by using clothing, bedding, sheets, or towels that have touched an infected person's skin. It is not a sign of poor hygiene. Anyone can get scabies.
Treatment involves using a scabicidal cream on the entire body and leaving it on the skin for 8 to 12 hours before washing it off. Symptoms usually subside within a few days but mild itching can persist for a few weeks. All household contacts should also be treated even if they don't have symptoms. And it's important to wash all clothing, bedding, sheets, and towels that have come into contact with the infected individual in hot water.
Follow-up
The toddler and her parents were treated with a medicated cream and instructed on how to rid the household of these annoying pests. After a couple of weeks, the child was examined by her pediatrician, and her rash and itching had completely resolved.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments