Definition

1. Noun:
   • A contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite: Scabies is a medical condition resulting from infestation by a microscopic mite (Sarcoptes scabiei). The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs, causing an allergic reaction.
   • Characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation: The primary symptoms are intense itching, often worse at night, and a pimple-like skin rash. It is highly transmissible through prolonged skin-to-skin contact.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The outbreak of scabies in the dormitory required immediate treatment for all residents.
  • Intense itching, especially at night, is a classic symptom of scabies.
  • Scabies is treated with prescription topical medications.

Advanced Usage

• "The seven-year itch": An informal, historical term sometimes used to refer to scabies, alluding to its persistent, long-lasting itch. This is not a clinical term.
  • Before modern medicine, soldiers often suffered from the "seven-year itch" in the trenches.

Variants and Related Words

• Scabietic (adj): Pertaining to or affected with scabies.
  • The patient presented with scabietic lesions on the wrists.

Synonyms

• The itch: A common informal synonym.
• Sarcoptic mange: The term for a similar mite infestation in animals.

Related Phrases

• Crusted scabies (Norwegian scabies): A severe, highly contagious form of scabies occurring in individuals with a weakened immune system, characterized by thick crusts of skin containing large numbers of mites.
  • Crusted scabies requires aggressive medical management and isolation.

Noun

1. a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation
   • he has a bad case of the itch