Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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What is Scabies?
Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by a tiny mite (Sarcoptes scabiei), less than half a millimetre long. The female mite burrows into the outer layer of skin to lay its eggs. As the larvae hatch and grow into mites, the skin produces an allergic reaction and intense itching develops. The scabies mite most commonly burrows around finger webs, wrists, armpits and inner elbows, and less commonly around the breasts, waist, thighs and buttocks.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms appear 2 to 6 weeks after infestation. Widespread itching occurs, particularly at night. The mites’ burrows can be seen as thin wavy lines (like pencil marks), usually appearing on the wrists, between the fingers, elbows, or genitals. A rash of raised pinkish-red spots will appear, most commonly on the inner thigh, underarms, buttocks and genitals, and around the belly button.
Scabies can be diagnosed by the appearance of the skin, by looking for the rash and burrows. To confirm the diagnosis, a sample of skin may be gently scraped from the area, for examination under a microscope – to look for mites, their eggs and their faeces.
How can you catch it?
Transmission of the scabies mite is by direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact, and therefore can pass easily between groups of people living in family homes, residential and nursing homes. It can also be passed on by sexual contact. As itching can begin weeks after catching the mites, they can be passed to someone else before the rash appears.
Who is at risk?
Scabies can affect people of any age but is most common in children and young adults. Like head lice, scabies mites do not prefer a particular type of person and can be transferred to anyone who has contact with an infested person.
What are Norwegian (crusted) Scabies?
The elderly and people who are immuno-compromised are more likely to have Norwegian (crusted) scabies. This is a highly contagious condition, in which the skin thickens, forming a crust, and rather than having the usual amount of female mites (around 12) which is seen in classical scabies, a person with crusted scabies can have an infestation with thousands.
Crusted scabies is transmitted by physical contact and also via bedding, towels clothes and upholstery.
How is it treated and who needs treatment?
Scabies is treated with a topical cream or lotion that will be prescribed by your GP or by your Dr if you are an inpatient. For classical scabies one treatment is usually sufficient, but crusted scabies may require at least two treatments. Itching may last for 2 to 3 weeks after treatment.
Everyone with scabies should be treated, as well as any household family contacts, and anyone who has had prolonged skin-to-skin contact (more than 5-10 minutes) with someone with scabies.
What about mites in the clothing and bed?
Scabies mites die if they fall off the body and do not spread on clothes or bedding – so normal washing is recommended.
Will scabies affect my care in hospital?
If you are diagnosed with Norwegian scabies while in hospital, or on admission to hospital, you will be nursed in a single room until you have been treated. Nursing staff will also wear gloves when having contact with your skin or handling linen, until after you have been treated.
Patients with ‘regular’ scabies do not require nursing in a single room, but treatment will be started immediately and nursing staff will wear gloves for direct patient contact until you are treated
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Infection prevention and control (IPC) service.
About this information
Service:
Infection prevention and control (IPC)
Reference:
LL/013
Approval date:
23 December 2024
Review date:
1 December 2027
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.