Scabies

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Scabies mites are tiny bugs that burrow (dig tunnels), lay eggs, and live underneath the skin.These mites bite your skin and feed on blood, causing a skin disease called scabies. Mite bites leave small raised bumps on the skin. These bites may be confused with a poison ivy rash or eczema (EGGS-zih-ma). Mites may also leave uneven thread-like burrow (BUR-o) marks on your skin. Scabies is spread by having close contact with the body of, or items used by a person with scabies.
  
  
• Most people do not know they have scabies until a few weeks after mites are under the skin. Since people may not have symptoms until later, everyone who is near a person with scabies should be treated. The first sign of scabies is usually very bad itching. Scabies does not go away without treatment. Treatment for scabies is a skin medicine that poisons and kills the scabies mites. Scabies mites are too tiny to be seen on your body.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Carefully follow the directions of your caregiver and the instructions on the scabies medicine. Some scabies medicines may cause you to be very sick if not used correctly. Do not leave scabies lotions or creams on your skin longer than instructed. Do not use it more often than instructed. Keep it away from your eyes.
  
  
• Take all other medicines as directed by your caregiver. If you think any of your medicines are not helping or that you are having side effects, call your caregiver.
  
  
• Put on clean underwear and clothes after your scabies treatment is finished.
  
  
• Throw away any scabies medicine that you do not use. Do not use old scabies medicine.

Body contact: Give scabies treatments to all family members. Tell sex partners and anyone who has shared your clothes or bed in the past month about the scabies. They should see their caregivers. They may need to use a scabies-killing treatment even if they have no itching, rash, or burrow marks. Do not have close body contact with anyone until the scabies mites are gone.

Cleaning:

• Wash all items that you have used since 3 days before you learned you have scabies.
  
  
• Use hot water to wash all clothing, bedding, and towels. Dry these things for at least 20 minutes on the hot cycle of a dryer.
  
  
• Dry clean items that cannot be washed in a washing machine. You can hang these items outside for 3 days. You may also put them into a closed plastic bag for 1 week.

Itching: Your skin may continue to itch for 2 or 3 weeks even after the scabies mites are gone. Ask your caregiver what medicine you may use for the itching. Keep the fingernails of all family members trimmed so they will not spread scabies mites by scratching.

Work/School: You may return to school or work 24 hours after using scabies medicine.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• The bites become pus-filled or crusty. This could mean the bite areas are infected.
  
  
• The itching gets worse after the scabies treatment. Also, if you have new bite or burrow marks after your scabies-killing treatment.
  
  
• You have any problems that may be caused by the medicine you are taking.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You become dizzy, feel sick, or vomit (throw up) after the scabies treatment.
  
  
• You have a seizure (shaking and spasms that you cannot control) after the scabies treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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