What is Scabies?

Scabies are minute mites that have eight legs and cannot be seen with the naked eye. However, they can be seen using a magnifying glass or microscope. These mites are approximately 1/3 of a millimeter in length. Scabies burrow into the skin, which causes severe itching.

Contacting Scabies

Scabies live on a human host for between 24 and 36 hours. A person can only be infected if they come into contact with the skin of a person who is infected. Physical contact includes sexual contact and other forms of closeness, such as parents holding or hugging their children. It is extremely difficult to contact scabies by touching the clothes of an infected person or by shaking hands.

Pets

When pets become infected with scabies, it is referred to as “mange.” Mites that thrive on cats and dogs do not thrive on humans, although they may cause a very minor irritation.

Signs and Symptoms

When scabies burrow under human skin, small bumps and blisters form. They most often appear in warm areas, such as the groin and the webs between the fingers. Scabies may also be found on elbows, knees and on the buttocks. Males may notice what looks like minute pimples on the penis. Human scabies cause small, thread-like burrows that are two to three millimeters long and are very difficult to see. Scratching destroys these burrows.

The most common sign of scabies is severe and relentless itching that increases at night. At first, the itch will be subtle. As time passes, itching will become more severe and after four to six weeks it will be so intense that it is almost impossible for the human host to sleep or function normally.

Infestation

Scabies can be easily spread in nursing homes and other institutions. Because scabies symptoms are so subtle in the beginning, an epidemic can occur before it is diagnosed. Cases such as this are very rare.