Contact has to be prolonged to pass scabies, so gestures like a handshake will rarely pass scabies to another person. Longer physical contact, such as hugging or sharing a close environment with skin contact, can potentially infect someone. [3] X Expert Source Lydia Shedlofsky, DODermatologist Expert Interview. 11 November 2020. Sexual intercourse is one common way to catch scabies from another person. If you had sexual intercourse with someone infected with scabies, seek treatment immediately.
Towels can become infected with scabies, since they are used in close contact with those infected. Avoid handling infected towels without gloves. Linens and bedsheets can also become infected with scabies. Take them off any beds and immediately launder them — this should be done on the first day of treatment. Clothing can also carry scabies. Any clothing that an infected person wore in the last 72 hours can still have mites on them and should be washed.
If possible, wash anything that has come into contact with those infected with scabies. Use the hottest water possible and dry them using the hottest setting. [6] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source You can also dry clean anything that has come into contact with an infected person. Make sure to tell the dry cleaners, though, so they can take special precautions to avoid a scabies infestation of their own. When you can’t wash the material infected with scabies, keep it sealed and away from others. Place infected material in plastic bags that are tightly sealed with as little air as possible in the bag. Keep the bags sealed for at least one week. Items that have not touched your skin for more than one week likely will not need to be washed.
Children are vulnerable to scabies. They can acquire it from being in communal environments in which scabies is more common. Mothers of young children are very susceptible to scabies. They often catch scabies from their children first before passing it on to others. Sexually active people can also acquire scabies. Scabies is most easily contracted as a result of prolonged skin-to-skin contact. People living in nursing homes or similar environments. The elderly or those living in close quarters can also get scabies because they are in close contact with many people. People in confinement, in places like prison, are also at risk of contracting scabies.
College dormitories are a common place to catch scabies, since so many people are coming into contact with one another and the outside world. Places like a communal bathrooms are somewhere to easily catch scabies. Nursing homes are another place to catch scabies. Since so many people are in close quarters, scabies can easily spread among the residents. Childcare centers can also spread scabies. It’s not because the children are dirty, but rather because one person infected can easily infect others through skin-to-skin contact. Classrooms can also spread scabies, since children are constantly coming and going from the outside and are around one another for long periods of time. Camps are another place to catch scabies. The mixture of a variety of people in close quarters can spread scabies.
For dogs, scabies is called mange. This produces a slight itch on human skin, but goes away quickly. Bring your pet to the doctor if they are exhibiting symptoms of mange such as itching or hair loss. Scabies from dogs will not cause human scabies. If you get scabies, it’s from another human, not from your pet even if they have mange.
Itching is a symptom of scabies that persists at night. It is the most common symptom, and can be so intense that it keeps those who are infected awake at night. Many people affected by scabies get a rash. The rash from scabies appears as little bumps, usually in a line, and can look like tiny bites, knots, or even pimples. The rash can be confused with eczema because of their similarities. Sores from scabies are only caused by intense scratching. After the sores have developed, the risk of infection greatly increases. Staph and strep may infect the skin. Thick crusts on the skin can form from a severe type of scabies. These crusts hold hundreds and even thousands of mites, along with their eggs, and greatly increase the itch, as well as making the rash more extreme.
Scabies often attack the hands. In particular, they can be found between the fingers and around the nails. Arms are a common place to find scabies infections. The elbows and wrists are particularly vulnerable to infection. Skin covered by clothing is often infected. Most commonly, the belt-line, penis, buttocks and skin surrounding the nipples can become affected; however, anything that clothing or jewelry covers is also a likely place for scabies to develop. In children the spots to watch out for scabies include scalp, face, neck, palms of hands, and soles of feet.
If a person has scabies, get them to a physician or dermatologist immediately. Not only can severe cases cause hospitalization, but scabies aren’t treatable without medication available by prescription. Creams, such as 5% permethrin cream and lindane lotion, are most commonly prescribed to solve the scabies infection. In more severe cases, such as crusted scabies, an oral medication such as ivermectin may be prescribed. Untreated scabies can continue the infection throughout an at-risk environment. If you think you have scabies, go see a doctor immediately to avoid passing it onto others.
