Many pathogens including harmful parasites can be microscopic, meaning they are not visible to the naked eye. If your client suggests they have a new unknown itch or rash, it’s always safest to have them see a doctor prior to potentially spreading a harmful infection. Working on a client with an unknown rash or itch is too big of a risk, given the practitioner could acquire the infection themselves and/or spread it onto other clients. Even if a practitioner wears gloves, that is not good enough, because parasites or other harmful pathogens could spread into your treatment area causing further infection later on down the road.
Different parasites commonly harbor in different areas of the human body depending on which type of infection is present. Some integumentary or skin infections may be more prevalent between the fingers while others may harbor in areas of where clothing meets the skin, such as underwear, shirt or pant lines. Other infections might show a “line” of parasitic infection on human skin, such as what is pictured in this article on the individual's posterior lower leg.
It is critical to conduct a proper and thorough client intake process before a client disrobes or infects your treatment space. This would include devising your own written client health intake form for the modalities that you offer or practice. Most liability insurance companies provide general client health intake forms for free to their customers, and then a practitioner can determine if that form makes sense for their practice, or if it should be modified for their own practical needs with legal counsel or other options. Once the client has filled out their intake form, practitioners should take notes of each treatment provided to ensure the client’s goals are being met for overall quality and improvement measures. Upon each new client appointment, practitioners should then ask the client if there’s anything new since their last visit, and that is when a practitioner should be notified if a client has a new itch or rash.
If the client does not disclose a new rash or itch (that developed for an unknown reason) until they are on the treatment table, it is probably best to immediately terminate the session until a medical diagnosis is determined that it was not caused by something that could be contagious. While that may seem inconvenient, continuing the session with a possible contagion puts everyone at higher risk and is ill-advised.
It is also important to prohibit clients from bringing their own linens, cushions and other fabric type items into your work space, given they can be difficult to sanitize and can also harbor harmful pathogens beyond our clients themselves.
