What Do We Treat?

Scabies

Scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by a very small mite. It is found worldwide among people of all groups and ages and is spread by direct contact with infected individuals and less often by sharing clothing or bedding. Sometimes entire families are affected.

The mites that cause scabies burrow into the skin and deposit their eggs forming a characteristic burrow that looks like a pencil mark. Eggs mature in 21 days. The itchy rash is an allergic response to the mite. Mites maybe more widespread on a baby’s skin causing pimples over the trunk, or small blisters over the palms and soles. In young children, the head, neck, shoulders, palms, and soles are involved. In older children and adults, hands, wrists, genitals, and abdomen are involved.

The objective of treatment is to eliminate the infestation. There is no known home remedy. It may be necessary to treat the whole family or sexual partners of infected individuals, even if no symptoms are present. We will usually prescribe a cream or lotion to be applied all over the body. In difficult cases, we may prescribe an oral antibiotic. Itching can be minimized by cool soaks and calamine lotions, and we often recommend an oral antihistamine.