• Transmission of scabies is by direct skin-to-skin contact or indirectly by contact with contaminated material (fomites).

• Scabies can lead to complications such as skin sores, sepsis, heart disease, and kidney problems.

• After hatching, within 4-6 weeks, patients develop an allergic reaction to the mite proteins and feces in the scabies burrows, which intensifies the itch and rash.

• When an infestation occurs, papules will present on the skin within 2-5 weeks. These papules are comma-shaped and typically, infestations occur under thin skin, such as in interdigital folds, areolae, and the navel region (Murray & Crane, 2023).

(Murray & Crane, 2023)

(World Health Organization, 2023)

• Topical treatments include 5% permethrin cream, 0.5% malathion in aqueous base, 10-25% benzyl benzoate emulsion, 5-10% sulphur ointment

• Orally, Ivermectin is taken and is highly effective

Treatments for complications of scabies may also be needed.

• antiseptic

• antibiotics

(Murray & Crane, 2023)

• World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 global targets for scabies include:

  • Getting countries to incorporate scabies management in the universal health coverage package of care

  • Getting countries to conduct MDA intervention in endemic areas

  • WHO includes Ivermectin on the essential medicines list for scabies, and many suppliers who have been WHO prequalified

    (World Health Organization, 2023)

    
    

• World Scabies Program:

  • Working with governments and partners to eliminate Scabies

  • Aim to put scabies control on national and global agendas

  • implement community-wide treatment strategies, and strengthen health systems to monitor and manage scabies

    (World Scabies Program, 2024)

To prevent scabies from spreading, you should:

• Avoid skin-to-skin contact with an infested person

• Clean and vacuum rooms after an infested person has been treated

• Seal items that can't be washed in a plastic bag for a week to eliminate the mites

• wash and dry bedding and clothes that have been in contact with the infested person using hot water and drying in direct sunlight or a hot dryer cycle

• Treat all members of the household if someone has scabies

  (World Health Organization, 2023)

References

• Murray, R. L., & Crane, J. S. (2023, July 31). Scabies. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544306/. 

• World Health Organization. (2023, May 31). Scabies. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/scabies. 

• World Scabies Program. (2024). An initiative of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. World Scabies Program. https://www.worldscabiesprogram.org/. 

• A rash in infants and small children, including on the palms, soles of the feet, ankles, and scalp

• Enflamed bumps on male genitalia and female breasts

• itchy lines and bumps on the fingers, wrists, arms, legs, and belt area

• Severe itching that gets worse at night

(World Health Organization, 2023)