Scabies (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Scabies Overview
- Scabies Causes
- Scabies Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Scabies Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Pictures
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Pictures of Scabies - Slideshow

- Viewer Comments: Scabies - Effective Treatments
Scabies Causes
Scabies is caused by a microscopic (<1 mm) mite called Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. The scabies mite causes symptoms when it digs a little tunnel below the skin (referred to as a burrow) and causes a type of allergic reaction. If the person has never been exposed to scabies before, he or she may not show symptoms until four to six weeks after the initial infestation. Individuals who have been exposed in the past usually show symptoms within a few days.
Scabies is almost always spread by protracted skin-to-skin contact with a person who carries the mite. Less commonly, scabies infestation can happen through the sharing of clothes and bedding. Theoretically, you can get scabies from touching something that the mite is on, but that is not a major mode of transmission.
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Scabies - Effective Treatments
What kinds of treatments have been effective for your scabies?
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Scabies »
Human scabies is an intensely pruritic skin infestation caused by the host-specific mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis.
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