Information on Scabies and Scabbies Treatment

SCABIES AT A GLANCE:

Scabies is a highly contagious skin disease caused by a parasite.  This parasite is a mite (Sarcoptes scabei) that burrows under the skin.  Scabies is found worldwide and in people of all races and social classes.

HOW SCABIES IS SPREAD:

Scabies is spread from person to person by close, prolonged contact such as touching and holding hands.  It can also be spread by contact with infected clothing, towels, or bed sheets and by sexual contact.  Scabies spread rapidly under crowded conditions where there is frequent skin-to-skin contact between people such as in hospitals, institutions, childcare facilities and nursing homes.  People cannot catch scabies from animals.

HOW SOON WILL SYMPTOMS BEGIN AFTER INFESTATION?

In an individual who has never had a scabies infestation, symptoms generally take 4 to 6 weeks to manifest themselves.  For those who have had scabies before, symptoms appear much quicker--usually within a few days.  No one becomes immune to a scabies infestation.

THOSE AT RISK FOR SERIOUS INFESTATION:

Individuals with weak immune systems and elderly persons are at risk for a more serious form of scabies called crusted scabies or Norwegian scabies.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SCABIES:

The most common symptom of scabies is a rash that is very itchy, especially at night.  The rash can be anywhere on the body but the most common locations are on the hands, breasts, elbows, knees, skin folds on the wrists, armpits, genital area, and waistline.  The rash looks like red bumps or tiny blisters that form a line.  Scratching may cause the skin to become infected with bacteria. 

THE DIAGNOSIS OF SCABIES:

Your doctor can check to see if your rash is due to scabies. Scabies is diagnosed by using a microscope to look for mites, eggs, or mite fecal matter to confirm the diagnosis.  If a skin scraping or biopsy is negative, it is possible that you will still be infested with scabies. 

HOW LONG WILL THE MITES LIVE?

An adult female mite can live up to a month while living on a person.  Once away from the human body, all mites will die after 48 hours.

HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREADING OF SCABIES:

Infested persons should be excluded from school or childcare until 24 hours after starting treatment.

No one should share clothing, bedding, or other personal articles with an infested person.

Clothing that cannot be laundered or dry-cleaned should be stored for several days to avoid re-infestation.

All household members and close contacts of a person with scabies should be treated at the same time as the person with scabies.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR SCABIES?

Several lotions are available for the treatment of scabies. One of the best treatments available today is Dexoprin.  Dexoprin is an all-natural remedy, and works on even the most severe cases of scabies.

Always follow your doctor’s directions and apply the lotion to a clean body from the neck to the toes. Leave the lotion on overnight (8 hours) then take a bath or shower and wash off all the lotion thoroughly.  Put on clean clothing. 

Wash all clothing, towels and bedding that was used 2 days prior to any treatment.  Everything must be washed in hot water and dried with in a hot drier.  Seven to 10 days after the initial treatment, a second treatment with the same lotion may be necessary.

Milder scabies medications are often used for children and women who are pregnant.