Scabies is a highly contagious skin condition that causes intense itching. Mites cause the itching by burrowing into the skin, and they can live on a human host for up to a month. Because scabies is so contagious, it spreads easily. Scabies is treated by a prescription cream that must be applied to the entire body and left for several hours. There are certain symptoms to look for if you think you or someone you know might have scabies.

Look for Itching

The primary symptom of scabies is intense itching. Generally, the itching is worse at night or after a warm shower or bath. Common places where mites tend to burrow on adults are between fingers, armpits, wrists, shoulder blades, inner elbows, around the waist, knees, buttocks, breasts and the genital area. The mites like living in warm crevasses. Children can experience itching on the scalp, face, neck, palms of hands and the soles of their feet. Babies often experience a more widespread infestation of mites.

Look at Skin

Another symptom for scabies is a rash of tiny red bumps that look like small insect bites or pimples, hives, or blisters. If left untreated, this rash will spread, and the bumps could become infected from scratching. Sometimes open sores will erupt from intense scratching. Scabies can also result in a thin line on the skin that looks like a pencil mark. The line indicates the movement of the mites under the skin. Scabies can become crusted and cracked, which looks like a scaly rash on the skin. This form of scabies is the most contagious as well as the most difficult to treat.

Look for Other Symptoms

People with scabies often suffer from a lack of sleep because the itching keeps them awake. Children can become irritable because of sleep loss. Look at other members in the household. Because scabies is contagious, someone else in your home might have it.

Get Tested

Bathing and over-the-counter medications do not successfully treat scabies, so it is important to seek medical help if you suspect scabies. Your general practitioner or a dermatologist can confirm whether you have scabies. Take children to their regular pediatrician for care. Testing includes a doctor scraping the skin, taking a culture of the skin, injecting ink into the skin or using a needle to extract a mite from the skin. By looking at these samples under a microscope, doctors determine whether scabies are present. Prescription lotion kills the mites and eases itching after a couple of weeks.

Source:

Mayo Clinic: Scabies Symptoms

Cleveland Clinic: Scabies

Marshfield Clinic: Scabies

More Information:

National Institutes of health: Scabies