Scabies

Scabies is a skin infestation caused by a mite known as the Sarcoptes scabiei. Untreated, these microscopic mites can live on your skin for months. They reproduce on the surface of your skin and then burrow into it and lay eggs. This causes an itchy, red rash to form on the skin.

Please practice social distancing as scabies is easily contagious.

Symptoms

Itchy skin

Occurs or worsens at night
At genital, At upper extremity, At lower extremity, Buttocks

common

Skin rash and redness

At hands, At feet, At armpits, At genitals, At elbows, At knees, At groin, At fingers, At wrists

common

Red lesions filled with pus

At buttocks, At lower extremity, At genitalia, At armpits

common

Small tunnel underneath the skin

common

Risk factors

Contact with sick person of scabies

Treatment

Scabies treatment involves eliminating the infestation with medications (scabicides). Several creams and lotions are available with a doctor's prescription. In addition to the infested person, the treatment also is recommended for household members and sexual contacts. All persons should be treated at the same time to prevent reinfestation. Bedding, clothing, and towels used by infested persons or their household, sexual, and close contacts anytime during the three days before treatment should be decontaminated by washing in hot water and drying in a hot dryer, by dry-cleaning, or by sealing in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours.