Scabies Refugee Health Programs March 2009

Scabies Scabies is a skin problem caused by a bug called a mite. A female mite lays eggs under the skin of a human and stays inside until she dies. We cannot see scabies because they are very small.

Adult mite

Symptoms Scabies only affects the skin, outside the body. Scabies causes extreme itching, which is usually worse at night. Rashes, blisters, or bumps may appear. Rashes and itching may last for 2-3 weeks, even after being treated.

Where Scabies Is Mainly Found In between the fingers Around the head and neck Wrist, nipple, elbow, waist, armpit, buttocks, penis, shoulder Hands and feet (especially in children)

If You Think You Have Scabies If you think you might have scabies, check with a doctor or nurse. Try not to scratch: scratching scabies can lead to skin sores that can become infected. Don’t share personal items with others.

How Does Scabies Spread? Scabies is passed from one person to another: Through skin–to-skin contact, By touching an infected person’s items (such as clothing), Through sexual contact. Remember! Until you are cured, you can continue to pass scabies on to others.

Prevention If you know somebody who has scabies, try not to touch their skin. Do not share clothes with an infected person. Wash bedding in hot water and dry at high temperatures (130 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least 20 minutes. If you are not able to wash something, sealing it in a plastic bag will kill the bugs.

Infection around the arm

Scabies on the hand. The red spots cause itching.

Scabies in genital areas

Treatments The only treatment for scabies is a medicine that must be prescribed by a doctor. Itching a scabies rash can make the infection worse. People living in the same house, or who has had skin-to- skin contact with an infected person should also take medicine. Everybody taking the medicine should use it at the same time so the bugs don’t come back.

Scabies Refugee Health Programs Heartland Health Outreach 1331 W Albion Chicago, IL ph This multi-media document was made possible with funding from the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Department of Health and Human Services provided to the Illinois Department of Public Health. March 2009