Scabies

Key points

• Itch is the main symptom, and it can be severe.
• The rash favours the finger webs, wrists, armpits, waist and genitals.
• Several household members are often affected at the same time.

How it spreads

Close contact of skin with skin, sustained over time, is what lets the mite transfer. Shared homes, care settings and crowded accommodation are where it is seen most often, because people there spend long periods close together.

Signs to look for

Itch is often at its worst during the night, and it can disturb sleep. Small raised red spots appear, and there may be fine wavy tracks in the skin. In babies and young children, the palms, scalp and face can also be involved. A first infestation may take two to six weeks before symptoms appear, while anyone who has had scabies previously may notice them within days of being exposed again.

Treatment

Clearing the mites and their eggs is the aim of treatment. Ivermectin is an oral antiparasitic, and Stromectol tablets supply it in 3 mg, 6 mg and 12 mg strengths; orders reach Malaysia in discreet packaging from pharmacy partners in India. The same medicine is used where topical treatment is impractical and for crusted (Norwegian) scabies, a form with a heavy mite load. Everyone in the same home, and other close contacts, is usually treated on the same day so the infestation does not return. Bedding, towels and worn clothing need hot washing on the day treatment begins.

When to see a doctor

Once treatment has worked, itch may carry on for a further two to four weeks while the skin settles after the mites and eggs have died. This is expected, and it does not mean the treatment has failed. See a doctor if you think you have scabies, or if the itch and rash continue.

Further reading

• Scabies
• Scabies - treatments, symptoms and causes - Healthdirect
• Scabies - NHS
• About Scabies - CDC