Scabies

[andyjevs]

My work colleague has been off sick with scabies this week. I haven't been in contact with him for 6 days but he's been in contact with the scabies scource for 4 weeks. I sit approx 4' away from him at work.
My other colleagues and myself are a little concerned about it.
Does anyone have any advice or info on this and could we be at risk ?
Many thanks

[Drusilla]

Scabies is nicknamed the itch and is highly contagious. It is caused by a tiny mite that burrows under the skin, usually between your fingers, inside of the wrists, palms soles of the feet and in you guys, the penis. It itches like billy-o and pimples appear about 4 weeks after the mite has burrowed in and it itches worse at night and can cause sores to develop as result of scratching. If you don't get it treated your skin can become course and inflamed leaving skin coloured or greyish ridges in the skin where the mite burrows in. (more later)

[Drusilla]

Many youngsters coming back from Ibiza have got it, cos you get it from overcrowding and sharing a bed with a sufferer. Unclean sheets are also a problem, so be wary of cheap hotels with poor hygiene. ALL CLOTHES AND BEDDING must be washed -hot as possible and your whole body must be covered with cream from doc, even under your nails and under your foreskin, boys. If just one person who's got it doesn't follow the procedures properly, you will all become infected again very easily.It's easy to cure, but so easy to catch. Visit doctors if suspicious and you will be prescribed cream. Everyone in the household must be treated, no exceptions! I didn't expect to spend my lunchbreak on this one. It's put me right off my prawn sandwich.

[Goodsoulette]

having worked in a nursing home whilst at college I saw scabies alot but never got it. Unless you were touching this guy you are unlikely to have it. They weren't gonna get out of his nice warm skin to crawl 4 inchres acroos the tabl;e to have to burrow into you.

Bet you have been checking like mad though haven't you, my biggest paranoia was scabies whenI worked with the fogies..

[woofgang]

be careful about things like sharing chairs though...seriously