Scabies is a condition caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows under the sensitive sections of skin, causing severe irritation. Transmission is usually from one infected individual to another. Diagnosis can only be achieved with a skin scraping, which is examined by microscopy, Scabies is easily treated with various readily obtained preparations from chemists. (For more information see the Scabies fact sheet). (BACK)

The human scabies mite infests and reproduces only on humans. Scabies mites from other animals may cause limited local irritation but will not become an infestation.

Dark ink applied to skin areas of suspected infestation help locate scabies' burrow sites. To confirm the presence of scabies, however, your physician places a drop of sterile mineral oil on the affected area. A scraping from this area is then examined under a microscope.

Scabies mites typically spread by close contact with an infested person. The mites may also spread from sharing towels, bed sheets, and other personal belongings. infested person can spread scabies before symptoms appear. It commonly affects several family members at the same time. A scabies infestation can affect people of all ages and from all income and social levels. Getting scabies does not mean that you have poor personal hygiene.

No, scabies mites are generally host specific and human infections are typically acquired from another infected human. (BACK)

Yes. Several lotions are available to treat scabies. Always follow the directions provided by your physician or the directions on the package insert. Apply lotion to a clean body from the neck down to the toes and left overnight (8 hours). After 8 hours, take a bath or shower to wash off the lotion. Put on clean clothes. All clothes, bedding, and towels used by the infested person 2 days before treatment should be washed in hot water; dry in a hot dryer.

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.

The most typical symptom of scabies is intense itching, particularly at night. Scabies and its associated itching occur most often between the folds of the skin, such as at the wrists and elbows, between the fingers, and in the general area of the navel and beltline. Infants and children sometimes get scabies on the head and scalp, or on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.

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 to confirm the diagnosis. If a skin scraping or biopsy is taken and returns negative, it is possible that you may still 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. We have no idea where the "10 mite rule" came from.

Scabies infestations can affect all people without regard to age, sex, race, or level of personal cleanliness. Scabies is most common in those who have close physical contact with others, particularly children, mothers of young children, sexually active young adults, and elderly people in nursing homes. People with weakened immune systems and the elderly are at risk for a more severe form of scabies, called Norwegian or crusted scabies.

Avoid physical contact with infested individuals and their belongings, especially clothing and bedding.