Jennifer wrote...
 
>Since March -- 5 months now -- I (but NOT my boyfriend) have been getting an
>annoying rash on my neck, chest, inner arms and occasionally on my calves.
>It is red, extremely itchy, feels like dry skin, and if there are raised
>bumps, they are very small.  I have seen three doctors (one a dermatologist)
>and three RN's and no one can figure this out.  "I've never seen anything
>like this" is not what I want to hear!
 
Does anyone know if a ferret can carry canine sarcoptic mange?  I got the
exact same symptoms from a litter of puppies born at a vet clinic some 15
years ago.  All the pups and the mom contracted this from another animal.
Sarcoptic mange is another name for canine scabbies (sp?) and these itsy,
bitsy mites burrow under the skin and cause an unbelievably itchy rash.  In
my case, the animals were actually diagnosed after I went to a dermatologist
who was quick on the draw.  He took skin scrapings from my arm and looked
under a microscope, I believe.  It was easy enough to cure with a body wash
called Kwell.  All the dogs needed treatment too, but I was so allergic that
the dermatologist gave me a medication to stop the itching...I can't
remember just now what it was, but it made me waaaaay sleepy.  Also, at the
time I was working as an x-ray tech, and I was banned from working with
patients till the problem was cleared up.
 
If this is, in fact, sarcoptic mange, the reason your boyfriend may not have
symptoms could be that, as the dermatologist and then the vet told me, these
mites don't really love most people...and would much prefer an
animal...maybe your honey doesn't taste as good as you :)  Anyway, I would
be interested to know if a ferret can pick up and transmit this itchy,
creepy rash.
 
Janet
[Posted in FML issue 1674]