What is Scabies?

Scabies is a skin condition caused by infestation from a microscopic mite laying eggs in the top layer of the skin.

Symptoms:

Scabies causes severe irritations of the skin that appear as a rash or raised pimple-like sores [particularly around sensitive areas of the body. These irritations are usually made worse by scratching the area and increasing the risk of infection from bacteria.

Causes of Scabies:

Scabies is spread by direct contact with somebody already infected. It requires a prolonged contact or sharing of clothing, so it is commonly spread quite quickly throughout households or schools.

How is scabies diagnosed?

The symptoms of scabies carry certain distinct characteristics that make diagnosis usually fairly easy for doctors, however in some cases a small scraping of the infected area may need to be examined under a microscope to confirm the presence of the scabies mite sin the skin.

How is it treated?

Treatment is fairly simple and generally resolves the problem within a day or two. Applying a lotion to the skin will kill the infestation, and your doctor or dermatologist will advise the most appropriate treatment. In cases of prolonged infestation, a repeat treatment may be required.