Infection Prevention and Control Team
Lanchester Road Hospital
Lanchester Road
Durham
DH5 1RD
Phone: 0191 333 3584
Email: [email protected]
What is scabies?
Scabies is a mite that burrows into the top layers of the skin. It is not usually a serious condition but does need to be treated. The female mite lays its eggs in these burrows leaving a line in the skin and a dot at one end. The body’s immune system reacts to the mite’s droppings and saliva resulting in an immune reaction which produces an intense itching.
Scabies is very infectious and can take up to 8 weeks for a rash to appear after contact with an affected person. Infestation most commonly occurs on the fingers and wrists.
Signs and symptoms?
- Itchy skin.
- The scabies rash usually spreads across the whole body, apart from the head and neck. It often affects skin between the fingers, around the wrists, under the arms, and around the waist, groin and bottom.
- Older people and young children may develop a rash on their head, neck, palms and soles of their feet.
- Itching does not start immediately but usually within 1-8 weeks after infection occurs.
- Although the treatment kills the scabies mites quickly, the itching can carry on for a few weeks.
How does it spread?
Scabies is passed from person to person by prolonged skin to skin contact especially by the hands. It can also be acquired during sexual contact.
Mites do not survive away from their host as it is too cold for them outside the skin.
How is it treated?
Treatment involves the application of a special lotion to the whole of the body except for the face. The manufacturer’s instructions should be followed, and lotion left on the skin for the length of time recommended, usually 12 – 24 hours. All household contacts should be treated at the same time. Treatment will need to be repeated 1 week later.
After treatment it may take up to 3 weeks for the itching to stop but this does NOT mean treatment has failed.
An antihistamine may help to reduce the itchiness.
Do
- Do wash all bedding and clothing at 50ºC or higher on first day
- Do put clothing that can’t be washed in a sealed bag for 3 days.
- Do try to prevent young children from sucking the lotion from their hands.
Don’t
- Don’t have close physical contact until you have completed the full course of treatment.
- Don’t share bedding, clothing, or towels with someone who has scabies.
- Don’t scratch the rash.
When can I return to work/school?
Children with scabies should be excluded from school/nursery only until they and all family contacts have received treatment.
You can return to school/work 24 hours following first treatment.
Where can I get further information?
During your hospital stay if you or your family require further information or wish to discuss this please contact the Ward Staff or the Infection Prevention and Control team.
Feedback
Please let your care team know if you want to comment on whether:
- this information is useful
- any information is missing
- you do not understand the information
Do you have concerns or complaints?
If you have concerns or complaints about a service, you can:
- tell a member of staff
- call our complaints team – freephone 0800 052 0219
- email [email protected]
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