Scabies is an intensely itchy infestation of the skin by the human mite Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis. Scabies affects both sexes, all ages, all ethnic groups, and people of all socioeconomic status. Common routes of transmission are person-to-person skin-to-skincontact with infected family members or contacts at day care, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and long term care facilities. In adults, scabies is often transmitted from person to person by sexual contact. Infestation with the scabies mite causes a hypersensitivity reaction in the skin which manifests as an intensely itchy rash. The itch seems to affect the trunk and extremities, with characteristic spreading to the face and neck. The incubation period (time from infestation until itching begins) is about 1 month. The diagnosis of scabies is made by history (time of onset of symptoms, location of itch, affected close contacts), physical examination (typical skin lesions and areas of involvement), and confirmation by a skin scraping. The treatment of scabies requires both eliminating the mite from the skin and treating the symptom of itch. In addition, close contacts of a confirmed case (family members, roommates, sexual partners, etc.) require treatment at the same time, whether or not they have symptoms in order to prevent reinfestation or spread to others. Treatments commonly used in the United States to eliminate the scabies mite are Permethrin 5% cream, Lindane 1% cream, Precipitated sulfur, Ivermectin.
More about scabies