Scabies

What is Scabies?
Scabies is caused by microscopic mites that burrow into the skin. It is spread through skin-to-skin or sexual contact with a person who has scabies. Less commonly, it is spread through sharing clothing and bedding. It is highly spread in crowded conditions where close contact happens.

Scabies tends to infect warm areas of the body, such as skin folds, between fingers, fingernails and genital areas. It is treated by applying permethrin cream and malathion lotion to clean and dry skin.


What are the symptoms of Scabies?

  • Intense itching
  • Pimple-like skin rash


What is treatment for Scabies?
Treatment should be re-applied after seven days, so as to ensure that mites that may have hatched are killed. There is no need to burn clothes, mattresses or linen but these should be washed with a hot cycle of 50C or more; or left in the sun in a black bag for at least 3 days.

All close contacts (including people who live with you and sexual partners) should undergo treatment, even if they do not show any symptoms.

Further information and help