Scabies

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What is scabies?

Scabies is a common, intensely itchy skin infection caused by skin mites.

Scabies occurs when these tiny insect-like creatures dig tunnels into the skin and lay their eggs. These eggs then hatch under the skin after three to eight days and the baby mites move o the surface of the skin to grow and mate.

Once the females become pregnant, they can continue the cycle by again digging under the skin to lay their eggs.

Scabies, which is very contagious, can appear in small epidemics in schools and daycare centers.

They can be spread from person to person by direct skin contact, or by sharing clothing, blankets, or other objects that an infected person has used.

Scabies can also be spread through sexual contact.

The time from infection until symptoms appear (incubation period) is 4 to 6 weeks.

Symptoms

Symptoms and signs

The main symptom of scabies is intense itching that occurs about 1 month after infection.

The itching usually is worse at night, during hot weather, or after a hot bath.

The skin mite is too small to be seen by the naked eye, but the tunnels that it makes can be seen. They appear as thin, thread-like lines in the skin that will become red and inflamed, especially after scratching.

The rash may look like small bumps, blister, or pustules, with sores from itching. The tunnels are often found between the fingers and on the insides of the wrists.

Other places on the body where scabies is common are around the belly button, on the elbows and ankles, on the buttocks, and on the nipples and penis. Very small children can get scabies on the palms, soles, neck and scalp.

Complications

Complications

Scabies rarely has any complications, except that it is very contagious, so several people in the same household may be infected at the same time.

Itching the involved areas of skin can cause the scabies to spread to other parts of the body. Scratching can also cause impetigo, a bacterial infection of the skin.

Home treatment

Treatment / What you should do

If you suspect that your child has scabies, you should contact a doctor.

If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, the doctor can remove the mites from the tunnels and identify them under a microscope.

Treatment for scabies is most often in the form of a cream or lotion that kills the skin mites. Follow the instructions that come with the medication.

The cream must be applied to the entire body, not just the areas where there is a rash. The treatment must be repeated after one week.

All persons living with the infected person, and all sexual partners, should be treated even if they have no symptoms.

This will prevent children from becoming re-infected after treatment. It is important to know that the itching can continue for several weeks after the treatment is completed. This does not mean that there is still an infection, but that the skin has been irritated and will take time to heal. If the child also has signs of bacterial infection, this may need to be treated with antibiotics.

Cool baths, calamine lotion, and topical steroids can relieve the itching. Antihistamines taken by mouth may also help with the itching, especially at bedtime.

Prevention

Prevention

It is difficult to prevent your child from being infected by scabies.

Scabies is not a result of poor hygiene, and is not related to dirt in the environment. It is important that anyone who is infected, or anyone who is in contact with someone who is infected in a family, childcare center or school, receives treatment at the same time, so that no one becomes infected again.

Even those individuals who don't have a rash or itching must complete the treatment.

Scabies is usually spread by direct physical contact, but can also be spread on clothing, blankets and towels, because the skin mite can survive several days without skin contact.

Clothing and linens must be washed in hot water and dried using a hot cycle. Items that cannot be washed should be sealed in a plastic bag for about a week before using them.

If your child has been diagnosed with scabies, you should report this to the school or day care. The child may return to school or daycare when treatment has been completed..

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