What is scabies?

• Scabies is an infection of the skin caused by a small insect called a mite.

• Scabies is contagious. As a result, family members often get the  infection at the same time. Your child can get scabies by coming into  close personal contact with someone who is infected.

What are the symptoms of scabies?

• An itchy, red rash that may look like dry skin, bumps or blisters.

• The rash usually is between fingers and toes, in the private areas (especially at the underwear line), and under the arms.

• Sometimes the rash looks like there are curly lines under the skin.

Home care

Your child should be evaluated in our office. Please call our office today for an appointment.

We may prescribe a medicated lotion like Elimite®, Nix® or Eurax®.

Permethrin (Elimite® or Nix®) cream

• As with any medication, please follow the instructions provided by the pharmacist or our office carefully.

• Do not apply to the face.

• Apply a thin layer to cover all other skin areas from the jawline down.

• Keep medicine on for 8 hours. After 8 hours wash the areas with warm soapy water.

• Consult the information included with the medicine for more details.

Crotamiton (Eurax®) lotion

• As with any medication, please follow the instructions provided by the pharmacist or our office carefully.

• Do not apply to face.

• Apply a thin layer to cover all other skin areas from the jawbone down.

• Keep lotion on skin for 24 hours.

• Without washing the skin, reapply lotion 24 hours after the first treatment.

• Wash off the skin 2 days after the second treatment.

• Repeat in one week.

• Consult the information included with the medicine for more details.

Itching and the rash may continue for 2-3 weeks after treatment due to the allergic nature of the rash.

• Give your child frequent cool baths.

• Apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to itchy areas.

Your child can return to school after one treatment with the scabies medicine.

Wash all of your child’s underwear and recently worn clothes in hot water.

We recommend treating all people in close contact with the infected  person with one application of the scabies medicine since scabies is  very contagious.

Wash all recently worn clothing and linens in hot water.

Put away any bedding that cannot be washed for 3 days.

Inform your child’s school or childcare provider.

Warning signs – Call our office for advice if:

Your child’s rash is red or purple and does not turn pale briefly after pressing on it, Call Our Office Now.

Your child’s rash gets worse with the medicine, Call Our Office Now.

Your child develops a rash on the face, Call Our Office Now.

Your child has been exposed to another person with scabies, you may want to call our office for an appointment.

You have any questions or concerns, or if you have any doubts about the severity of your child’s symptoms, Call Our Office Now.