Scabies

What Are Signs and Symptoms of Scabies?

The most common symptom of scabies is itching that is often worse at night.

• Other symptoms include:
• Small bumps or blisters
• Thin, raised lines on the skin (burrows)
• Thick, scaly, or crusted skin
• Symptoms can happen anywhere on the body. They are most common on the hands, feet, wrists, elbows, groin, waist, and skin folds

How Is Scabies Treated?

Your doctor or health care provider will prescribe a cream or lotion to treat scabies. Follow the directions exactly as prescribed. Keep the medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

You must do this treatment two times. The treatments will be 1 to 2 weeks apart. Your child’s health care provider will give you directions.

1. Before bedtime, give your child a warm bath or shower.
2. Let their skin cool and dry completely.
3. Apply a thin layer to your child’s entire body at bedtime as directed by your provider. Leave it on for the amount of time your child’s provider tells you to, usually 8 to 14 hours. Infants may also need medicine on their scalp. Ask if the medicine can be used on your child’s face. Keep it away from their eyes, nose, and mouth. Wash your hands.
4. If your child washes their hands or you change their diaper after putting medicine on their entire body, reapply the medicine to the parts that were washed. Be sure to wash your hands after.
5. In the morning, have your child take a bath or shower with soap to wash off all the medicine.

What Can I Do at Home if My Child Has Scabies?

• Make sure to apply the cream from the chin to the toes, covering every part of the skin. Make sure you get the belly button, underarms, between toes and fingers, and under fingernails.
• For infants, the cream will also need to be applied to the hairline, neck, scalp, temples, and forehead.
• Keep your child’s fingernails short to help prevent skin damage and infection from scratching.
• If your child sucks their thumb or fingers, place mittens over their hands to help keep medicine out of their mouth.
• Itching may continue for a few weeks after treatment.
• You can give your child a bath with plain, lukewarm water to help with itching.

Clothing and Bedding

On the day treatment starts, wash or clean items that may have scabies mites on them. Scabies mites cannot survive away from human skin for more than 3 days.

• Wash clothing, bed linens, towels, and washcloths used during the previous week in
  very hot water.
• Dry items using high heat.
• Place items that cannot be washed, like stuffed animals or pillows, in a sealed plastic bag for at least 3 days. Keep the bag out of reach of children.
• Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture.

How Can I Help Prevent the Spread of Scabies?

• Everyone who lives in the home should be treated at the same time.
• Ask your doctor, health care provider, or the pharmacist if the medicine is safe for infants, pregnant people, or other family members.
• Avoid close skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has untreated scabies.
• Tell your child’s school, childcare center, and anyone who has had close contact with them about their scabies. Usually, children can return to school after their first treatment is done. Most children do not miss any school.

Getting Help

• Contact your child’s doctor or health care provider right away if they have a fever over 100.4˚ Fahrenheit (F) or 38˚ Celsius (C).
• If your child swallows any medicine or gets medicine in their mouth, call Poison Control right away at 1 (800) 222-1222.
• If medicine gets into the eyes, rinse with cool water for several minutes. Then call Poison Control.
• Always wash your hands right away after touching your child when they have scabies.

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