Human scabies is a highly itchy and contagious skin infection caused by a skin parasite called scabies. Approximately 300 million cases of scabies are reported worldwide each year.

A patient’s history can reliably indicate the presence of scabies. Scabies distribution and intractable itching that worsens at night, as well as scabies symptoms in close individuals (including multiple family members), should immediately put scabies at the top of the clinical differential diagnosis.

In scabies, the parasite enters the skin and comes to the skin surface at night. That’s why the itching is more at night.

Classic scabies usually has a distribution including axilla, elbows, wrists and genital area.

In elderly patients, scabies tends to appear on the back, often appearing as a scratch. In infants and young children, lesions are usually located on the palms and soles.

Treatment:

Treatment of scabies includes administration of a scabies agent (such as permethrin, lindane, or ivermectin) as well as an appropriate antimicrobial agent if secondary infection occurs. Washing sheets and clothes must be done. All family members should be treated.