In this Article

• What is scabies?
• How do you get scabies?
• Can you catch scabies from a dog or cat?
• What does scabies look like? What are the signs and symptoms of scabies?
• What does scabies feel like?
• What is the treatment for a scabies infestation?
• Are cases of scabies often misdiagnosed?
• What are possible complications of scabies?
• In what special situations can scabies be more easily spread?
• Pictures of Scabies Mites - Slideshow
• Pictures of Adult Skin Problems - Slideshow
• Pictures of Childhood Skin Problems - Slideshow
• Patient Discussions: Scabies - Effective Treatments
• Scabies Glossary
• Scabies Index
• Find a local Dermatologist in your town

Are cases of scabies often misdiagnosed?

Scabies is very easy to misdiagnose because early subtle cases may look like small pimples or mosquito bites. Over a few weeks, however, mistakes like this become evident as patients feel worse and worse with symptoms they can't ignore.

What are possible complications of scabies?

The intense itching of scabies leads to prolonged and often intense scratching of the skin. When the skin is broken or injured due to scratching, secondary bacterial infections of the skin can develop from bacteria normally present on the skin, such as Staphylococcus aureus or beta-hemolytic streptococci.

In what special situations can scabies be more easily spread?

Elderly and weakened people in nursing homes and similar institutional settings may harbor scabies without showing significant itching or visible signs. In such cases, there can be widespread epidemics among patients and health-care workers. Such cases are dramatic but, fortunately, uncommon.

References: Dourmishev, A.L., Dourmishev, L.A., and Schwartz, R.A. Ivermectin: pharmacology and application in dermatology. Int J Dermatol. 2005 Dec;44(12):981-8.

Chosidow, O. Clinical practices. Scabies. N Engl J Med. 2006 Apr 20;354(16):1718-27. Review. No abstract available.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Scabies: http://www.cdc.gov/scabies/index.html

Medically reviewed by Norman Levine, MD, Board Certified - American Board of Dermatology

Scabies - Effective Treatments

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