Case for diagnosis

• Autor(es): Cabral, AR ; Coutinho, I ; Reis, JP
• Data: 2013
• Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.4/1604
• Origem: Repositório do Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra
• Assunto(s): Escabiose; Portugal
• Tipo de Documento: Artigo
• Idioma: Inglês

Descrição

Human scabies is an intensely pruritic skin infestation caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Crusted scabies (previously known as Norwegian scabies) is a rare form, very contagious and transmitted by direct contact with the skin. Despite being readily treatable, a delayed diagnosis often leads to widespread infestation of contacts, and therefore difficult to restrain. This case concerns a patient where dermoscopy (with scabetic burrows and a visible hand-glider structure), together with direct microscopic examination, allowed a prompt diagnosis, thereby reinforcing the increasing importance of this technique in daily practice.