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<dermatology> A contagious dermatitis of humans and various wild and domestic animals caused by the itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, transmitted by close contact and characterised by a papular eruption over tiny, raised sinuous burrows (cuniculi) produced by digging into the upper layer of the epidermis by the egg laying female mite, which is accompanied by intense pruritus and sometimes associated with eczema from scratching and secondary bacterial infection.
Synonyms: the itch, seven year itch.
Origin: L., from scabere = scratch
(11 Mar 2008)
scabbed, scabby mouth, scabicidal, scabicide < Prev | Next > scabieticide, scabious, scabrid
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