Is the grade of cutaneous irritation the same in all cases of scabies?
No; in those of great cutaneous irritability, especially in children, the skin being more tender, the type of the eruption is usually much more inflammatory. In those predisposed a true eczema may arise, and then, in addition to the characteristic lesions of scabies, eczematous symptoms are superadded; in long-persistent cases, indeed, the burrows and other consequent lesions may be more or less completely masked by the eczematous inflammation, and the true nature of the disease be greatly obscured.
What do you mean by burrows?
Burrows, or cuniculi, are tortuous, straight or zigzag, dotted, slightly elevated, dark-gray or blackish thread-like linear formations, varying in length from an eighth to a half an inch.
Fig. 76.
Burrow, or cuniculus, greatly magnified. (After Kaposi.)
Showing the mite, ova, empty shells and excrement.
How is a burrow formed?
By the impregnated female parasite, which penetrates the epidermis obliquely to the rete, depositing as it goes along ten or fifteen ova, forming a minute passage or burrow.