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Scabies
(SKAY-bees)
What is scabies?
Scabies is an
infestation of the skin with the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabei.
Infestation is common, found worldwide, and affects people of all races
and social classes. Scabies spreads rapidly under crowded conditions where
there is frequent skin-to-skin contact between people, such as in
hospitals, institutions, child-care facilities, and nursing homes.
What are the signs and symptoms
of scabies infestation?
- Pimple-like
irritations, burrows or rash of the skin, especially the webbing
between the fingers; the skin folds on the wrist, elbow, or knee; the
penis, the breast, or shoulder blades.
- Intense itching,
especially at night and over most of the body.
- Sores on the body
caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with
bacteria.
How did I get scabies?
By direct, prolonged,
skin-to-skin contact with a person already infested with scabies. Contact
generally must be prolonged (a quick handshake or hug will usually not spread
infestation). Infestation is easily spread to sexual partners and
household members. Infestation may also occur by sharing clothing, towels,
and bedding.
Who is at risk for severe
infestation?
People with weakened
immune systems and the elderly are at risk for a more severe form of
scabies, called Norwegian or crusted scabies. Scabies is spread more easily by persons who have Norwegian, or crusted, scabies than by persons with other types of scabies.
How long will mites live?
Once away from the
human body, mites usually do not survive more than 48-72 hours. When living on a
person, an adult female mite can live up to a month.
Did my pet spread scabies to
me?
No. Pets become
infested with a different kind of scabies mite. If your pet is infested
with scabies, (also called mange) and they have close contact with you,
the mite can get under your skin and cause itching and skin irritation.
However, the mite dies in a couple of days and does not reproduce. The
mites may cause you to itch for several days, but you do not need to be
treated with special medication to kill the mites. Until your pet is
successfully treated, mites can continue to burrow into your skin and
cause you to have symptoms.
How soon after infestation will
symptoms begin?
For a person who has
never been infested with scabies, symptoms may take 4-6 weeks to begin.
For a person who has had scabies before, symptoms appear within several days.
How is scabies infestation
diagnosed?
Diagnosis is most
commonly made by looking at the burrows or rash. A skin scraping may be
taken to look for mites, eggs, or mite fecal matter (scybala) to confirm the
diagnosis. Even if a skin scraping or biopsy is taken and returns negative, it
is still possible that you may be infested. Typically, there are fewer
than 10 mites on the entire body of an infested person; this makes it easy
for an infestation to be missed. However, persons with Norwegian, or crusted, scabies can be infested with thousands of mites and should be considered highly infectious.
Can scabies be treated?
Yes. Several creams or lotions that
are available by prescription are FDA-approved to treat scabies. Always follow the directions provided by
your physician or the directions on the package label or insert. Apply the medication to a
clean body from the neck down to the toes.
After leaving the medication on the body for the recommended time, take a bath or shower to wash off the cream or lotion. Put on clean
clothes. All clothes, bedding, and towels used by the infested person during the 3
days before treatment should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. A
second treatment of the body with the same cream or lotion may be necessary. Pregnant women and children are often treated with milder
scabies medications such as 5% permethrin cream.
Who should be treated for
scabies?
Anyone who is diagnosed
with scabies, as well as his or her sexual partners and persons who have
close, prolonged contact to the infested person should also be treated. If
your health care provider has instructed family members to be treated,
everyone should receive treatment at the same time to prevent
reinfestation.
How soon after treatment will I
feel better?
Itching may continue
for 2-3 weeks, and does not mean that you are still infested. Your health
care provider may prescribe additional medication to relieve itching if it
is severe.
This fact sheet is for
information only and is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a
substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any
questions about the disease described above or think that you may have a
parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.
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