Scabies

Treatment Overview

If you suspect that you have scabies, see your doctor as soon as possible for treatment. Delaying treatment increases the risk that the scabies mites will spread to other people. Scabies will not go away on its own.

• Scabies can only be cured with prescription creams or lotions. Nonprescription medications are not strong enough to kill the mites.
• Most creams or lotions are applied to the entire body from the neck down. On infants, the medication is also applied to the scalp, face, and neck, taking care to avoid the area around the mouth and eyes. The medication usually is left on for 8 to 14 hours and then washed off.
• Children can usually return to day care or school after treatment is completed and the medication has been washed off. Treatment takes 1 to 3 days depending on the medication used.
• Your health professional may recommend that you be examined 2 weeks and 4 weeks after completing treatment to ensure that the scabies has cleared up.
• Persistent nodular scabies may be treated with injections of steroids into the nodules. In rare cases, coal tar products are applied to the nodules.

You will likely continue to itch for days to weeks after having successfully killed the mites. This itching is caused by an ongoing allergic reaction to the mite bites. Your doctor may recommend antihistamines (such as Benadryl), steroid creams, and, in severe cases, steroid pills to help relieve itching. The allergic reaction will usually disappear gradually.

Who else should be treated?

Anyone who has had close physical contact with a person who is infested with scabies should be treated. This may include several members of the same household, including anyone who has prolonged skin-to-skin contact (sleeping, bathing, or holding hands) with the infected person.

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Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH	Last Updated: April 4, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
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