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Scabies causes a widespread itch and spotty rash (red on white skin, purple or brown on more pigmented skin) on the body and limbs. It does not usually occur on the head and neck. The itch is worse at night and with heat. The mite burrows in the skin, particularly around the fingers, but also on the hands and feet in young children. It may cause small blisters in these areas. Mites can also be found at the elbows, around the armpits, on the penis and scrotum and around the nipple area. People affected become allergic to the mite in the skin. They then develop widespread itch and an allergic rash.

Scabies is commonly passed to others through close contact with an infected person, e.g., holding hands with them. It is often passed from one family member to another. Children playing together commonly pass it to one another. Scabies is not due to poor personal cleanliness. The scabies mite does not survive away from the human body and therefore it cannot be caught from the carpet or from furniture.

All family members and close contacts of a person with scabies should be treated, whether or not they appear to have scabies. Treating both the person affected and also the other contacts is the most important factor in preventing spread of this condition.

Most people can be treated with a cream or lotion applied to the skin which kills the live mites. A doctor should be consulted to decide the most suitable treatment. The cream or lotion is applied from the jaw line down to the toes, paying close attention to the hands and folds of the skin around the genitals. It should be left on for up to 24 hours and then washed off the following day. If the hands are washed during this time, the cream or lotion must be applied again to the hands.

All household members in close contact should be treated at the same time. All bedding slept in the night of the treatment and clothing worn in the last few days should be washed. A normal hot wash with detergent will be sufficient to kill the mite. Occasionally a second treatment may be recommended.

Once the treatment has been used, the itchy rash may take 2-3 weeks to settle. The doctor may prescribe cortisone creams to control the itch and any dermatitis that might occur as a result of the scabies. Children can go to school after the first treatment.

Your Maternal and Child Health nurse.
Your pharmacist.
Your family doctor.
A dermatologist.

© 2002, Department of Dermatology, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia.