Scabies

Symptoms of scabies may appear from several days to weeks after contact. Signs and symptoms of scabies include:  

• Intense itching of the skin, especially at night
• A raised rash or spots
• Small bumps, small bubbles, red lines, sores caused by scratching

Skin lesions are located mainly in the following areas:

• Between the fingers and the toes
• Inside the wrists and elbows
• Under the armpits
• On the waist
• On the genitals, buttocks and nipples

Scratching the skin can cause it to break and crust over. Skin lesions can become infected with bacteria that lives on the skin. 
 

After treatment, itching may last for a few weeks – it doesn’t mean the treatment failed. However, new lesions after treatment may indicate the treatment did not work properly. 
 

Those most at risk of complications are young children, people with disabilities, and immunosuppressed individuals. 
 

Crusted scabies: People with a weakened immune system can sometimes get a rare and very contagious type of scabies called crusted scabies. The main symptom is a crusted, flaky rash that often affects the elbows, knees, hands and feet. Both oral and topical agents should be used for treatment of crusted scabies.

The infestation spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact including sexual contact with an infected person or, rarely, by contact when sharing clothes or bedding. An infected person can transmit mites as long as they remain untreated. 
 

Anyone can be infected, and you can catch it again. Crowded conditions facilitate the spread of scabies. 
 

The mite cannot fly or jump. It generally cannot not survive more than 4 days outside a human host. Animals do not spread human scabies. 

You will need two rounds of treatment to get rid of scabies. 


Anyone with scabies, and all people that have been in close contact with, should be treated at the same time with a 5% permethrin-based cream product (Nix or Kwellada-P). 

 

Other treatments also exist. The medication is available at the pharmacy with a prescription. 

 

1. Apply scabies treatment (cream or lotion) all over the body, except on the eyes, mouth, nose, ears and genitals. It is important to follow the instructions of the pharmacist or manufacturer.
   
    
2. After applying the treatment, it is important to put on clean clothing and leave the treatment on for 12 to 14 hours. The product can then be removed by taking a shower or bath. Afterwards, change into clean clothes. You can return to your normal activities after one treatment.
   
    
3. A second treatment is required 7 days after the first application. Apply the treatment even if the situation is better – this is to get rid of the new larva. 
   
    
4. If you have been in contact with someone with scabies but you have no symptoms yet, apply one treatment to get rid of the larva. 

To prevent scabies, avoid skin-to-skin contact and sharing personal items with other people until the end of the treatment.
 

To control scabies, wash all clothing and bedding used in the 4 days before the first treatment:
 

• Machine wash and dry these items at the hottest cycle for at least 20 minutes. 
• Bedding and pajamas used during the first treatment must be washed before being worn again to remove the drug from the fabric.
• Fabrics or objects that cannot be washed in hot water or dried on the hottest cycle must be placed in a closed plastic bag for 4 days. 
   

People who were in contact with scabies but have no symptoms do not need to follow these measures.

To control scabies, wash all clothing and bedding used in the 4 days before the first treatment:
 

• Machine wash and dry these items at the hottest cycle for at least 20 minutes. 
• Bedding and pajamas used during the first treatment must be washed before being worn again to remove the drug from the fabric.
• Fabrics or objects that cannot be washed in hot water or dried on the hottest cycle must be placed in a closed plastic bag for 4 days. 

People who were in contact with scabies but have no symptoms do not need to follow these measures.