What is scabies?
Scabies is an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite. The microscopic scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs. Scabies is highly contagious skin disease caused by a parasite. However, it can be prevented and treated
How do I get scabies?
Persons can catch scabies by direct prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. However, a person with what is called crusted scabies can spread it by brief skin-to-skin contact or by exposure to bedding, clothing, or even furniture that he/she has used.
What are the signs and symptoms of scabies?
The most common signs and symptoms of scabies are intense itching, especially at night, and a pimple-like itchy rash. The itching and rash may affect much of the body or be limited to common sites such as the wrist, elbow, and armpit, between the fingers, nipple, penis, waist, belt-line, and buttocks. The rash also can include tiny blisters and scales. Scratching the rash can cause skin sores; sometimes these sores become infected by bacteria.
Scabies can spread rapidly under crowded conditions where close body and skin contact is frequent. In institutions such as nursing homes, preschools, child care centers and prisons are common places for scabies outbreaks.
How soon after infestation do symptoms of scabies begin?
If a person has never had scabies before, symptoms may take as long as 4-6 weeks to begin. It is important to remember that an infected person can spread scabies during this time, even if he/she does not have symptoms yet.
In a person who has had scabies before, symptoms usually appear much sooner (1-4 days) after exposure.
Can scabies be treated?
Yes. Products used to treat scabies are called scabicides because they kill scabies mites; some also kill eggs. Scabicides to treat human scabies are available only with a doctor’s prescription.
Who should be treated for scabies?
Anyone who is diagnosed with scabies, as well as his or her sexual partners and other contacts who have had prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the infected person, should be treated. Treatment is recommended for members of the same household as the person with scabies, particularly those persons who have had prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the infected person. All persons should be treated at the same time to prevent reinfestation of scabies.
Preventing Reinfection
• Vacuum floors, carpets and rugs.
• Disinfect floors and bathroom surfaces by mopping with disinfectant.
• Daily washing of recently used clothes, towels and bedding in HOT water and drying in a HOT DRYER.
• HOT drying pillows for 30 minutes.
• Overnight Freezing, in a plastic bag: stuffed animals, brushes, combs, shoes, coats, gloves, hats, robes etc.
• Quarantine in a plastic bag for two weeks: things that cannot be washed hot dried, frozen or dry cleaned.
Dry cleaning: Things that cannot be washed hot dried, frozen or quarantined.
For more information about scabies please contact the Health Promotion Unit at 497-2540 or your health care provider.
