Scabies
Scabies
Scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin.
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Treatment
Treatment for scabies
The 2 most common treatments for scabies are permethrin cream and malathion lotion. Both medications contain insecticides that kill the scabies mite.
Permethrin cream is usually recommended as the first treatment. Malathion lotion is used if permethrin isn’t effective.
To help reduce the itchiness, you may also be given:
- steroid cream
- menthol cream or gel
- antihistamines
You may have itchiness for a couple of weeks after your treatment has finished. This is because the immune system will still be reacting to dead mites and their droppings.
Contact your GP if you’re still experiencing itchiness 6 weeks after completing your treatment.
You can return to school or work after the first treatment has been completed.
How is scabies passed on
Scabies is spread through direct skin contact, including sexual contact.
It’s unlikely that scabies will spread through brief physical contact. For example, shaking hands or hugging.
Scabies infections can spread quickly. This is because people are usually unaware they have it until 2 to 3 weeks after the initial infection.
People who work closely together in confined environments are more at risk. For example, people working in schools, nurseries, nursing homes or university halls.
Scabies mites can survive outside the human body for 24 to 36 hours. This makes it possible to be infected by contaminated clothes, towels or bed linen. But, it’s rare for someone to be infected this way.
Prevention
If you or someone in your family has scabies, there are practical things you can do to reduce the risk of it spreading to others.
Do
- wash all bedding and clothing at 60°C or higher and, if possible, put them through a hot dryer on the first day of treatment
- put any clothing that can't be washed in a sealed bag for 3 days until the mites die
- clean your floors
- vacuum your carpets and furniture, including armchairs and sofas
Don't
- do not have any close physical contact with anyone until you have completed your treatment
- do not share bedding, clothing or towels with someone who has scabies
Complications
Scabies can sometimes lead to a second problem: a skin infection. This happens when constant scratching leaves the skin sore, raw and inflamed, giving germs a way in.
There is also a rare but more serious form called crusted scabies. In this form, a very large number of mites live in the skin. It tends to develop in older people and in those whose immune system is weakened. Crusted scabies spreads very easily to others.
Unlike ordinary scabies, a crusted scabies rash usually does not itch. Because there are so many mites, the skin develops thick, warty crusts instead.