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St. Maarten Medical Center
Dermatology
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Scabies is an infestation of the skin by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. It causes intense itching and can be spread from one person to another through close skin-to-skin contact. Fortunately, effective treatments for scabies are available.
Scabies is usually passed from one person to another through close skin-to-skin contact. It is common for infected parents to pass scabies to their child (particularly an infant) or vice versa as a result of close contact. However, it is unusual for school children to pass scabies to each other. It takes about three to four weeks for signs or symptoms of a first scabies infection to develop after infection. People who have been infected with scabies previously may develop symptoms within a few days after another exposure.
The most common mode of transmission between young adults is sexual contact, although the infection can be passed without sexual activity.
The mites that cause scabies only survive for 24 to 36 hours once they are no longer in contact with the skin; however, they may survive longer in colder conditions. As a result, scabies tends to be more common in the winter than in the summer.
Although uncommon, it is possible for a person to get scabies by wearing or handling heavily infected clothing, or sleeping in an unchanged bed recently occupied by an infected individual. This is more likely with a severe form of the condition called crusted scabies.
Typical scabies — The primary symptom of scabies is widespread itching, which may be severe and is usually worse at night. Scabies causes visible lesions (reddish bumps or blisters) on the skin; however, these are often very small and can be difficult to see These bumps or blisters are often more noticeable in children, especially if they scratch frequently.
A person may also notice a "burrow" or tunnel sign, a thin, visible line in the skin that extends from 2 to 15 millimeters (0.08 to 0.6 inches). Although not everyone with scabies has visible burrows, the presence of such marks strongly suggests scabies.
The following parts of the body are more likely than others to be affected by scabies:
The back is usually not affected, nor is the head (except sometimes in infants or very young children). Scabies lesions can become more irritated and inflamed with scratching, which may lead to infection.
Crusted scabies — People with a weakened immune system (including those with HIV infection, lymphoma, or other conditions) may develop "crusted scabies", also called "Norwegian scabies". This condition may also affect older adults or those with Down syndrome.
Crusted scabies causes large, crusty red patches or bumps on the skin, which spread easily if untreated. The scalp, hands, and feet are often affected, although the patches can occur on any part of the body. The lesions of crusted scabies often contain large numbers of mites, although there may be little to no itching.
Getting rid of mites — The most commonly used treatment for scabies is a topical (cream) medication. Your healthcare provider may instruct you to repeat the treatment after one week. Creams or lotions must be applied carefully to cover all skin from the neck down, and rinsed off according to instructions. Talk to a healthcare provider to be sure you understand which treatment is recommended and how to properly use it.
Treat family members — In some cases, household members and close contacts of a person with symptoms need treatment for scabies, even if there are no symptoms, to avoid a repeating cycle of infection. A healthcare provider can help to decide if this is necessary, depending upon the individual situation.
Although scabies is less frequently spread by touching the clothing or bed sheets of an infected person, it is still a good idea to wash or isolate any clothing, bedding, towels, pajamas, underwear, or stuffed animals that the person has touched within three days before treatment. It is not usually necessary to wash other items. Reasonable options for eliminating mites from these items include placing them in plastic bags for at least three days, machine washing and then ironing or drying in an electric dryer on the hot setting, or dry cleaning.
Crusted scabies is more likely to be spread through shared clothing or objects than typical scabies.
Relieving itching — Antihistamines may help to control itching. Itching may persist for several weeks after mites are eliminated; a steroid cream or a course of oral glucocorticoids may be recommended if itching is severe. If symptoms persist or become worse, the person may have become re-infected.
Treating infection — The skin usually heals without difficulty after mites are treated. Keeping the skin clean and dry and avoiding scratching can help to prevent infection. However, if signs of a skin infection develop (eg, redness, swelling, pus, pain), oral antibiotics are generally recommended.
Return to work/school — Children can usually return to school after one treatment for scabies. Classmates and teachers do not usually need to be treated unless there are signs or symptoms of scabies infection.