Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Use permethrin. Try crotamiton 10% cream or lotion. Get a prescription for lindane 1% lotion. Use ivermectin. Treat skin irritation. Buy topical steroids or oral antihistamines.

Answer: Treatment for scabies involves getting rid of the infestation with prescription medications, which are called scabicides because they kill the mites.  There are currently no over the counter medications to treat scabies. Your doctor may prescribe you permethrin 5% cream, which is the drug of choice for the treatment of scabies.  It kills the scabies mites and eggs. The cream should be applied from the neck down over the entire body and washed off after eight to 14 hours.  Repeat the treatment in 7 days (1 week).  Side effects may include itching or stinging. You should talk to your doctor or pediatrician about treating infants and young children with scabies. Permethrin cream is safe for infants as young as 1 month old, but most experts recommend also applying it to the head and neck area for infants and young children. Make sure you can do so without getting it into your child's eyes or mouth. Crotamiton cream or lotion may also be prescribed to you. To use it, apply it from the neck down over the entire body after a bath.  Apply a second dose 24 hours after the initial dose and bathe 48 hours after the second dose. Repeat both doses in seven to 10 days. Crotamiton is considered safe when used as directed. However, frequent treatment failure has been reported with this scabicide, which means it isn't the most effective or widely used anymore. This lotion is similar to other scabicides. The lotion should be applied from the neck down over the entire body and washed off after eight to 12 hours in adults and after six hours in children. Repeat the treatment in seven days.  Lindane should not be given to children younger than two, women who are pregnant or nursing, or people with weakened immune systems. It is potentially neurotoxic, which means it can cause damage to the brain and other parts of the nervous system.  The prescription of lindane should be restricted to individuals who have failed treatment with or cannot tolerate other medications that pose less risk. There is one oral medication for scabies. Evidence suggests that this oral medication is safe and effective for the treatment of scabies. However, it is not approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this use. Ivermectin is prescribed in a single oral dose of 200 mcg/kg. It should be taken on an empty stomach with water.  Repeat the dose in seven to 10 days. The prescription of ivermectin should be considered in individuals who have failed treatment with or who cannot tolerate FDA-approved topical medications for the treatment of scabies. A potential side effect of ivermectin is an elevated heart rate. Symptoms and skin lesions may take up to three weeks to resolve despite the killing of the scabies mites with scabicides.  If they do not resolve in this time frame, retreatment should be considered as there may have been treatment failure or reinfestation. Symptomatic treatment of itching may be accomplished with the cooling of your skin. Soak in a tub of cool water or apply cool compresses to the irritated areas of skin to help with the itching.  Sprinkling some oatmeal or baking soda in your bath can have a soothing effect on the skin. You can also try calamine lotion, which is available over the counter and has been shown to effectively relieve the itching of minor skin irritations. Good options include Sarna or Aveeno anti-itch moisturizers. Avoid anything with added fragrances or dyes, as these can irritate the skin. Both of these drugs can help with the associated itching of scabies, which is actually due to an allergic reaction to mites, eggs, and waste. Steroids are very powerful inhibitors of itch and inflammation. Examples of topical steroids include betamethasone and triamcinolone.  Since it is an allergic reaction, over the counter antihistamines can also be used. These include Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra, and Zyrtec. These can be especially helpful at night to reduce itching so you can sleep. Benadryl also acts as a mild sedative for many people. You can also get prescription antihistamines such as Atarax.  Topical hydrocortisone 1% cream can be purchased over-the-counter. It is often effective for itch.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Make sure your rats have good visibility. Spend time with your rats. Teach them tricks. Take them out.

Answer:
Keep the rat cage in an area where you are often present and the rats can watch what's going on around them. This will prevent feelings of isolation. The more attention you give, the more bonded, active, healthy, and friendly your rat will be. A single rat is a lonely rat, and this can cause behavioral issues. Unless your rat is aggressive, they are best not left alone. Even if they are aggressive, patient love and attention can bring them around.  Handle the rats daily, preferably two to three times a day for ten minutes or more. Rats love to learn and solve problems, so consider setting up little obstacle courses containing hidden treats in order to mentally stimulate your rats. Teach tricks by starting slow, rewarding, and reinforcing with treats and praise if done correctly.  Rats are very intelligent, and can learn many tricks, such as jumping through a hoop, spinning in a circle, standing up, and even giving a handshake, all on spoken command. Do not punish your rat for failure. Rats don't understand negative punishments, and will only confuse the rat. Instead, give them a treat when they do it right. If your rat bites, don't give him a firm tap and a "no." Instead, squeak like a rat would and pull away. Eventually your rat will understand. Do not forget that each rat has his or her own personality, meaning that one rat may learn differently from others. Any specific method of teaching may work for one rat, but may not for another. The key to successful training is to be persistent and have lots of short training sessions filled with treats. Rats enjoy a change of scenery and a chance to stretch their legs and explore. Rats should be taken out at least one hour per day. You can let them roam around on your shoulder or somewhere in your house where it won't be a problem.  If you take your rats outside, a harness is a good idea so that you have some control if the rat becomes frightened. There are many rat websites, forums, and other online communities to join with other rat lovers if you'd like to talk with like-minded people and share.