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What is it? The scabies mite burrows under the skin. It can hardly be seen with the naked eye. It belongs to the same family as the spider. It is usually sexually transmitted. However, children can pass it to one another through casual contact. Often symptoms are not visible. It may take several weeks for them to develop. Limiting the number of intimate and sexual contacts does provide protection from scabies.
How is it spread? Scabies is spread through close personal contact with an infested person. It is also possible to spread scabies through contact with infested bedding and clothing. Testing for scabies can be difficult. Although people can diagnose themselves, diagnosis may require microscopic examination of a skin scraping or biopsy by a clinician.
Symptoms include:
intense itching — usually at night
small bumps or rashes that appear in dirty-looking, small curling lines, especially on the penis, between the fingers, on buttocks, breasts, wrists, thighs, and around the navel
How is it treated? Prescription medications such as Kwell® or Scabene® are effective against scabies. Repeated neck-to-toe applications may be necessary. Everyone who may have been exposed to scabies should be treated at the same time. All bedding, towels, and clothing that may have been exposed should be thoroughly washed or dry cleaned and the home should be thoroughly vacuumed.
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