What Is Scabies? -- Symptoms
Symptoms of scabies usually begin slowly, with a minor rash and itching that tends to be worse at night. Scratching spreads the mites to other areas, and, after several weeks, the symptoms worsen. At this point, common
scabies symptoms can include:
- Intense itching, especially at night and over most of the body.
- Pimple-like irritations, burrows, or rash on the skin.
- Scaling and redness caused by the scratching.
- Sores on the body caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with bacteria.
- Small, rounded lumps (often on the penis and scrotum) that may remain for several weeks after scabies treatment.
- Breasts
- Buttocks
- Knees
- Penis
- Wrists
- Elbows
- Webbing between the fingers
- Shoulder blades.
What Is a Scabies Diagnosis?
In order to make a
scabies diagnosis, the doctor will ask a number of questions, perform a physical exam, and possibly order certain tests.
A scabies diagnosis is most commonly made by looking at the burrows or rash. The doctor will pay particular attention to where the rash is located, its appearance, and the possible symptoms of scabies the person is experiencing. A scabies diagnosis can be confirmed by taking a skin scraping and seeing mites, eggs, or mite fecal matter when the scraping is looked at under a microscope.
What Is Scabies Treatment?
The goal of scabies treatment is to:
- Treat any family members who have been in close contact with the infected person
- Kill the scabies mites (Sarcoptes scabiei)
- Prevent the scabies from returning.
Both the patient and family members can be treated with the same medicine.
It is important that all scabies eggs and mites be killed. So all clothes, bedding, and towels used by the infested person should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer 2 days before scabies treatment begins. No special cleaning is necessary for coats, furniture, rugs, floors, and walls.
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