Scabies
Scabies is a skin infestation with a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. These mites burrow into the skin where they live and reproduce. Eggs laid in the burrows hatch, crawl out onto the skin and make new burrows.
Symptoms
The skin infestation commonly involves the genital areas, buttocks, lower abdomen, wrists, forearms and webs between the fingers. Burrows are often difficult to see, but can most often be seen on the webs between the fingers, around the waist (under the belt line), in the creases of the wrists and elbows and on the palms and soles of children.
It takes between three and six weeks after the first infestation with scabies for symptoms to appear. Mite droppings in the skin cause an itchy reaction, which may be severe. The itch is often worse at night and after a hot shower or exercise. There may be raised red lumps.
How do you get it?
Scabies is passed from person to person by close direct contact. It can be spread by sexual contact and by non-sexual contact in family groups and institutions. Scabies is less commonly passed on through clothes and bed clothes. Away from the human body, mites die within 72 hours.
What's the treatment?
There are several treatments available. Ask your doctor to recommend an appropriate treatment. The instructions need to be followed carefully to make sure it works without causing any harm. Other household members and sexual contacts should be treated at the same time.
What to do?
For advice, see your local doctor, family planning clinic or sexual health clinic.
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