SCABIES: Some information and Advice

What is scabies?

Scabies is an infestation caused by a "mite". This is a tiny animal, smaller than a pinhead. it crawls on the surface of the skin and burrows into the skin. The burrows are small, pink and scaly "zig-zag" tracks found usually in-between the finger spaces, the wrists, elbows, armpits, underneath the breasts, around the groin and buttocks. Sometimes the rash can mimic other skin disorders.

An intense itch is very common, and is usually worse at night in a warm bed. It can take up to a month before the rash or the irritation starts. Sometimes people do not itch.

Scabies is transmitted by skin to skin contact. Sometimes only the briefest contact is necessary. such as holding hands for a few minutes.

Treatment:

• Treatment is necessary as the condition will not resolve naturally.
• The whole family and intimate contacts must be treated at the same time, whether they have had symptoms or not.
• An insecticide must be applied to the skin of the whole body (except the head and neck). In the elderly and children under 2 the application should be extended to the scalp, neck, face and around the ears. Avoid contact with the eyes and mouth.
• Pay special attention to the hands, armpits, groin, buttocks and underneath the nails.
• Be sure to re-apply the treatment if you wash your hands or visit the toilet.
• The cream or lotion may be washed off after 12-24 hours (eg after overnight application).
• It is possible to find live mites on clothes or in the home; at the same time as treatment, clothes and bed linen should be washed and the home vacuum cleaned.
• Treatment is necessary twice, a week apart.
• Repeated treatments can cause dermatitis, which can also be very itchy.
• Itching from scabies, even after successful treatment, can continue for several weeks. A skin moisturiser and anti-histamine at night can be helpful in this situation.

More leaflets available on; http://www.warwickhouse.org.uk

Last updated 8/10/2005