Teen FAQ

Here are some scabies facts for our readers: What is scabies? Scabies is a very itchy skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into the outer layers of the skin. The most common form of scabies is called papular scabies. See an illustration of scabies. How is scabies spread? Scabies mites typically spread by close contact with an infested person. The mites may also spread from sharing towels, bed sheets, and other personal belongings. An infested person can spread scabies before symptoms appear. It commonly affects several family members at the same time. A scabies infestation can affect people of all ages and from all income and social levels. Getting scabies does not mean that you have poor personal hygiene. What are the symptoms? Scabies causes severe itching that is usually worse at night. Small children and older adults tend to have the most severe itching. Children typically have the most severe skin reactions to scabies. A person with a first scabies infestation may not develop itching and skin sores for several weeks. If the person is ever infested again with scabies, symptoms develop in a few days. How is scabies diagnosed? Your doctor can usually diagnose scabies based on your symptoms. Scabies is especially likely if you have had close contact with other people who you know have had similar symptoms. Sometimes a doctor confirms a diagnosis by looking for signs of mites on a sample of your skin. This test is not painful for most people. A doctor gently scrapes some dry skin from an affected area and then examines it under a microscope. How is it treated? You need medication prescribed by your doctor to cure scabies. It will not go away on its own. Usually, you apply a lotion or cream to your skin. In severe cases, you may need to take medicine as a pill. Some scabies medications are not safe for use by children, babies, pregnant or breast-feeding women, or the elderly. To avoid dangerous side effects, be sure to strictly follow your health professional's instructions for use; only repeat a treatment when told to do so. This is particularly important when using lindane (Kwell), which can cause nervous system problems if it is misused. If you have scabies, you and any household members and people with whom you have close physical contact must all be treated at once. This prevents the mites from being passed back and forth from person to person. You must also carefully wash all clothes and bedding.