Scabies
Scabies is a common skin infestation caused by mites, tiny insects.
Scabies can be unpleasant, but it is not the direct cause of disease. Complications can occur if there is a skin infection.
Scabies has nothing to do with uncleanliness.
What are the symptoms ?
The mites that cause scabies dig deep furrows in the skin, where they lay their eggs. These furrows cause a rash to appear in the form of small red bumps. In general, the itching is more intense at night.
The rash is usually visible between the fingers, in the groin area, between the toes, and around the wrists or elbows, but it can occur anywhere on the body.
In babies and young children, the rash can appear on the head, face, neck, chest, abdomen, and back. It looks like white, curvy furrows, small red bumps or scratches.
How does it spread?
Scabies is transmitted by close contact with the skin of an infected person, with whom you share the same bed, for example. It spreads easily within the same family. Usually, a short touch, such as a handshake or a hug, does not allow transmission. Scabies is sometimes spread from clothing or personal items like bedding.
The mites responsible for scabies can live up to 3 days away from the skin.
Animals do not transmit human scabies.
How do we treat it?
Scabies is treated with a cream or lotion prescribed by a doctor. In general, it must be left on the skin for several hours. It may be necessary to apply 2 treatments 1 week apart.
Your child may feel itchy for a few weeks, even though the mites are all dead.
Everyone who lives with an infected child should be treated at the same time, because it is possible to have scabies without yet showing symptoms.
What can parents do?
- Call your doctor if you think your child has scabies.
- If your child has scabies, wash all bedding (sheets, pillowcases, and blankets), towels, and clothes in hot water, and put them in the dryer on the hottest setting, to make sure to kill mites.
- To properly get rid of dust mites, store items that cannot be washed in an airtight plastic bag for a week.
- Your child can start going to daycare or school again after the first treatment has been applied.
