Twenty-year-old engineering student Ashwin was returning home from college in Hyderabad one evening last year when his skin started itching uncontrollably. Dismissing it as an insect bite, he tried to ignore it, but it only became worse. Unable to bear it any longer, he rushed to a private hospital the next morning. The dermatologist declared it was a minor rash and prescribed ointments, which did nothing to help. A desperate Ashwin then consulted senior dermatologist Dr Putta Srinivas, Director of Medical Education, government of Telangana. The doctor questioned the patient about his diet and came to know that he had eaten prawns a couple of days ago. He was diagnosed with seafood allergy and prescribed medicines, which failed to check the itching. Within a week, Ashwin had broken out in hives. He again consulted Srinivas, who after taking a look at the rash, diagnosed him with scabies, a condition of very itchy skin caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. The itching is caused by an allergic reaction to the mites......click for more

source web page:THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS