After all, the disease has a dingy image because the homeless are often affected

After all, the disease has a dingy image because the homeless are often affected

After all, the disease has a dingy image because the homeless are often affected.

If you believe current figures and assessments, the scabies, which many people long thought had been eradicated, is on the rise again. "The impression that the frequency has increased is clear", says Cord Sunderkötter, Director of Dermatology at the University Hospital Halle (Saale). Resident dermatologists and dermatological clinics reported increasing patient numbers. The Barmer-Krankenkasse recently published data according to which its policyholders were prescribed an average of 60 percent more scabies medication in 2017 than in 2016.

Scabies can affect anyone

But Sunderkötter warns against making too quick claims. "It all goes well together. But so far there is no really easy to evaluate data that would allow conclusions to be drawn about the development in the general population"says the skin specialist. There must first be a study. He is currently working on a concept with colleagues.

One thing is clear: the disease called scabies among experts can affect anyone. Mites are the trigger. They are passed on through close skin contact. The scabies is therefore usually transmitted between children and their parents, partners or people in need of care and their carers. While people with common scabies are often only infested with a few dozen mites, the heavier scabies can have millions of these animals.

Mites lay eggs under the top layer of skin

The thin, warm skin on some areas of the body, such as the spaces between the fingers and knuckles or the navel and buttocks, is preferred by the barely recognizable arachnids. They dig into the top layer of the skin. The females lay corridors there and lay their eggs or feces. The immune reaction triggers the severe itching. Blisters, reddened nodules and the typical pattern of the ducts are other signs. Patients with a weak or suppressed immune system often do not feel itchy, so the disease can spread unnoticed for a long time.

There are still uncertainties among doctors, according to Sunderkötter, who has therefore written a guideline with colleagues on the diagnosis and treatment of scabies. "With us you couldn’t see the passages under the skin clearly, which is probably why the diagnosis was so difficult"says Müller. She describes the long time with the constantly itchy skin as extremely stressful. "Friends were more tense, no longer wanted to hug us, and felt sorry for us", so Müller. She washed all the laundry every day. The mites do not like temperatures of more than 60 degrees.

Around 330 million people worldwide suffer from scabies

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 300 million people have scabies. Nobody knows how many there are in this country. There is no comprehensive reporting requirement. Only facilities in which the scabies can spread quickly have to report outbreaks to the health authorities: daycare centers, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, refugee homes or even prisons. Because they do not have to forward their data to state authorities or the Berlin Robert Koch Institute (RKI), it is unclear even here what the nationwide situation looks like. The RKI speaks of one "very sketchy data". Trend analyzes are not possible.

The possible reasons for the information about increased scabies numbers are diverse, so Sunderkötter. Not every patient who is prescribed a drug is likely to be actually infected with scabies mites, he points out. In addition, some people may be given multiple prescriptions.

The growing number of refugees is always brought into play as an explanation for the increasing numbers of scabies, according to Sunderkötter. Presumably, the disease is also more common among refugees when they arrive in Germany. But medical examinations are required. And contact with the local population is usually not so close that it explains an increase.

Scabies: Scars in the hip area of ​​a man are reminiscent of a surviving scabies disease. The disease can affect anyone. (Source: Henning Kaiser / dpa)

"The scabies gets under the skin"

Your daughter brought the disease with her from high school, says Katrin Müller. You know 14 affected students. But the school simply swept the subject under the carpet and did not inform the parents. However, she warned all friends and acquaintances who had contact with her family.

The treatment dragged on for a long time with Müller and her family. "Usually it is enough to use ointment once and again after a certain time to be sure", so Müller. With her family members, the treatment was only successful after they treated each other with ointment for several days and also took a drug. "Then we finally had peace", so Müller.argumentative essay help That was a year and a half after the first itch. An experienced dermatologist helped.

Mites under the skin: all the facts about scabies Notifiable disease: Health insurance company reports an increasing number of scabies cases

To recover from the stressful time, Katrin Müller went to the cure for four weeks. Only her husband left marks on the skin. "It’s all scarred", so Müller. She herself almost threw the disease off track mentally. "The scabies gets under the skin", she says. And the fear of getting infected again is great. Anyone who has had scabies is prone to it. "When we sit down somewhere or get too close to people, the fear is always there. One becomes compulsive."

Sources used: dpa

It flakes, itches, and gets wet. Psoriasis can spread almost all over the body. It preferentially affects joints. A cure is not yet in sight. But there are ways of relief.

How to properly care for your skin
Photo series with 6 pictures

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease. It is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system attacks cells in your own body. You can find out what you can do about it here.

With psoriasis – medically called psoriasis – spots appear on the skin with the following appearance: sharply delimited, red, raised marks covered with silver-white scales, which often cause itching. This is how the medical term came about: "psora" is Greek and means itching. The skin disease is not contagious. According to the German Psoriasis Association, between two and three million people in this country suffer from psoriasis. The level of suffering is sometimes very great because of the conspicuousness of the skin. 

Causes of psoriasis

The skin disease is hereditary, but it doesn’t have to break out. Often a relative in the family has already suffered from psoriasis. The already genetically programmed disease can be triggered by drugs such as beta blockers, lithium, interferon and chloroquine. But mechanical stimuli, for example a cut, also promote the outbreak. The psyche also has an influence on the development of psoriasis, so stress often leads to a deterioration in the appearance of the skin. Smoking, obesity and alcohol consumption also promote the development of the disease.

In psoriasis, the immune system is directed against its own cells on the surface of the skin. The immune system overreacts, so to speak, and the skin becomes inflamed and cells multiply. Psoriasis is usually chronic in attacks.

Itching with psoriasis (Source: Thinkstock by Getty-Images)

Therapy options for psoriasis

There are a variety of preparations and physical therapy forms to relieve the symptoms of psoriasis or even to temporarily relieve the skin from the symptoms. There is currently no possibility of a complete cure. In local treatment, creams, ointments, lotions or bath additives are used to try to alleviate the symptoms. Vitamin D and cortisone preparations as well as the active ingredients dithranol or retinoid are used for this.

For more severe courses, drugs with retinoids are prescribed, which normalize the growth and maturation of skin and mucous membrane cells. In severe cases, so-called immunosuppressants can help, which suppress the immune system, but sometimes have severe side effects.

Measure blood pressure and lipid levels

People with psoriasis are at greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The German Society for Rheumatology (DGRh) advises you to have your blood pressure and lipid levels checked regularly by your doctor. This applies in particular to patients who have joint problems as well as skin problems – a so-called psoriatic arthritis.

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Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, like all inflammatory rheumatic diseases, put a strain on the entire body. Patients should therefore consistently take the medication prescribed for them. They can also lead a healthy lifestyle in order to lower their own risk of cardiovascular disease.

Sources used: Deutscher Psoriasis Bund e. V. News agency dpa own research show more sources less sources

A 50-year-old American returned from a vacation in Florida with a pimple on her bottom. Initially nothing special. The pimple started to hurt. That’s nothing surprising either. Anyone who has ever had a large, deep-seated pimple called a boil would think nothing of it. The woman died a good two weeks later.

What happened? The 50-year-old from Indianapolis had traveled to Florida with her husband on vacation and stayed at the hotel. There she also relaxed in a hot tub. This is now suspected of having been contaminated with a pathogen. At least the husband later told US media that she was the only one who was there. No other cases of illness are known. 

After returning, the vacationer had a coin-sized pimple on her bottom. When it became infected and hurt, she went to the doctor, according to a US TV station that reported on the case. According to her husband, she was sent home with an antibiotic. This should regress the inflammation. 

Prescribing antibiotics in such a case is a common practice. It is not uncommon for a wound to become infected, for example after a cut. If this leads to painful symptoms, doctors usually prescribe an antibiotic because they assume a bacterial infection. This prevents blood poisoning (sepsis), which can be fatal. 

The antibiotic was ineffective

However, according to media reports, the pain did not go away, it got worse. The woman went back to the clinic, the doctors gave her antibiotics again and sent her back home. But the pain still wasn’t going away. The third time the woman came to the emergency room, the doctors decided to take a tissue sample (biopsy) from the inflamed area. This was sent to the laboratory. "We’re sorry, but she has a carnivorous bacterium, we have to get her to the operation right away"According to media reports, the doctors are said to have said to her husband. 

Inflamed area of ​​skin: The picture shows a boil on a man’s left buttock. An American woman had an optically similar inflammation on her bottom. Shortly afterwards, she succumbed to a serious infection. (Source: imagebroker / imago images)

The laboratory result showed: The patient had necrotizing fasciitis. This is a bacterial infection of the subcutaneous tissue. The triggers are streptococci, which produce toxins. The bacteria then not only cause local problems, but can also reach the entire organism via the bloodstream if they are not removed in time. These are so-called A-streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes).

The infected skin and tissue must be surgically removed in the case of necrotizing fasciitis. That is exactly what happened in the clinic. The 50-year-old had to go under the knife twice and spent a total of 16 days in the intensive care unit. Then it was over – the doctors were sure. The patient was allowed to go home again. But only a few days later she succumbed to the disease. The necrotizing fasciitis could not be treated successfully. Apparently there were still toxin-producing bacteria in her body.

In Germany, too, people suffer from necrotizing fasciitis

The infection also occurs in Germany. It is estimated that there are around 50 such cases in this country every year. The infection is usually easy to treat with a normal dose of penicillin, but it is often detected too late. According to experts, healthy people can die within two days. The reason is usually a multiple organ failure. 

The insidious thing: every wasp sting can trigger such an infection. Or the classic: you stab a spade in the foot while gardening. You promptly have an open wound. If this is infected with A streptococci, then in the very worst case the rare disease can be triggered. But nobody would throw in an antibiotic right away. According to experts, the first symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis are so unspecific that doctors do not recognize them immediately and by then it is usually too late. In the best case scenario, limbs must be amputated. In the worst case, those affected die.

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The bacterium streptococcus is at home in our mucous membranes The bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes (A streptococcus) often colonizes our mucous membranes. Usually this is not a problem. Because in many of us the bacteria eke out an existence in the upper respiratory tract that does not affect us any further. However, if the number of these bacteria increases so that they gain the upper hand in relation to the others, it can lead to sore throats or sinus infections, for example.