Sunday 26 September 2010

MRCP revision battle 21.6: Scabies

Scabies is an intensely itchy condition caused by sarcoptes scabei, an arachnid which burrows into skin.


In terms of MRCP the follow facts need to be committed to memory:
  • first line treatment is 5% permethrin which must be applied over whole body, face and scalp and washed off after 8 to 12 hrs and repeated after 7 days
  • second line treatment is 0.5% malatrion
  • pruritus persists for up to 6 weeks post erradication.
  • look out for pictures of lines (burrows) between web spaces of hands


Now you're itching nicely, lets attack the penultimate battle of the day, pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome.