Feb 22 2009
Scabies
Scabies are little mites (bugs) that burrow in the skin and cause severe itching and little red bumps. They are so small that they can only be seen with a microscope. They rarely attack the skin above the neck except in small infants. Scabies is contagious and is transmitted by close personal contact.
Treatment
Most individuals with scabies will be treated with anti-scabies medication, such as Elimite or Kwell lotion. The lotion should be applied in a thin layer to every bit of skin from the neck down, even over areas that do not seem affected. Make sure to treat the skin between the fingers and toes and clean vigorously under the fingernails with the lotion. If there are lesions on the face, that area should be treated carefully with the lotion, avoiding the eyes. The lotion should be left on overnight. In the morning the infected person/s should be given a bath. The infected person/s should not be given a bath or shower before application of the lotion, since this may increase absorption into the body.
The treatment should be repeated again in seven days, and these two treatments almost always bring a cure.
The itching and rash, including bumps that may occur, may last for up to two months after treatment even though the mites are killed and gone. Various salves and oral-itching agents may be recommended to relieve the itching. All medicine should be stored out of the reach of children since it is poisonous if swallowed.
Area Cleaning The House
All washable clothing, towels and bed linens that have been in contact with the infested persons should be machine laundered in hot water and machine dried on high heat for 20 minutes to destroy the mites.
If there are items such as stuffed animals and quilts that are too difficult to, they can be placed in a large plastic bag, sealed and stored unopened for a week.
Family Contacts
Scabies are easily passed from one person to another; usually more then one person in a family has them, even if they have not yet developed a rash. All household members (including baby-sitters) should be treated with the agents indicated above. Children can return to school after one treatment with the anti-scabies medication.
