The word "scabies" has connotations of dirty and unclean; however, scabies is a very common skin disease that can affect all children regardless of their social background or personal hygiene standards. It's also a disease that's highly contagious, and children who escape catching scabies are considered very lucky indeed. So, while as a parent it may be distressing for you to discover that your child has scabies, remember that it's a common complaint and one that's fairly easy to get rid of.

Scabies is caused by microscopic mites that burrow under the surface of the skin and lay eggs. Once the eggs are hatched, the cycle repeats itself. Scabies produces a pimple-like rash on the skin that is extremely itchy, particularly at night time.

Your child is at risk of catching scabies from someone who has the disease. As previously mentioned, scabies is highly contagious and is spread by direct contact: exchanging clothing (as young children very often do), or sharing towels and bed linen with someone who has the disease are all ways in which your child can become infected. Scabies isn't discriminatory either; anyone can become infected regardless of their age, sex, or often how they shower!

The symptoms of scabies include a red, itchy, pimple-like rash which is at its itchiest at night time, and the appearance of short burrows - grayish-white lines - in the affected areas of the skin. Scabies affects the areas of the body below the neck and may be found between the fingers, at the wrists, elbows, thighs, abdomen, buttocks, armpits, and feet. In children under the age of two, symptoms are likely to appear on the neck, head, hands, and feet.

It takes between two and six weeks after exposure to someone with scabies for the symptoms to appear. Re-infection is possible and when this occurs symptoms usually appear between one and four days after exposure. The scabies mite can live up to three days without being in contact with the human body.

If you believe your child has contracted scabies, it's important to seek immediate medical help for an initial diagnosis. There are a number of effective topical medications that can be used to treat scabies. Which scabies medicine is chosen to treat your child will depend on a number of factors including your child's age. Every member of your family who has come into close contact with the affected child will need to be treated at the same time, even if they show no symptoms of scabies. Once treatment has been administered, it should be followed up the next day with a bath and a change of bed linen and clothing. It's perfectly normal for itching to be present after treatment for up to two weeks.

Keep your child away from other children until he or she has completed their scabies treatment. Wash all bedding, towels, and clothing that all family members have recently come into contact with in hot water using your regular detergent, and dry in a hot dryer. Thoroughly vacuum all carpets, upholstered furniture, and mattresses.

Learn more about this author, Jed Eane.
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