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Scabies is an irritating itchy skin problem that happens when a person becomes infested with mites of the species Sarcoptes scabiei. Individuals who are around someone who has scabies are at risk of being infested with scabies mites.
Close Contact
Close physical contact, sexual or otherwise, is the most common way to get scabies, according to the Mayo Clinic and Medline Plus.
Shared Articles
People who share clothing or bedding with someone who has scabies may become infested, although Medline Plus and the Mayo Clinic report that this is a lower risk than direct physical contact.
Warning
Scabies mites are very contagious, and Medline Plus reports that everyone with whom an infected person lives or has had physical contact may also need to be treated for the mites.
Effects
The itching reaction caused by scabies is actually an allergic reaction to the scabies mites, according to Medline Plus.
Considerations
Humans sometimes come into contact with and develop a minor skin reaction from scabies mites that infect animals such as cats and dogs; however, the Mayo Clinic reports that a full case of scabies is unlikely to develop from this type of exposure.
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