You receive a notice from school saying your child may have been exposed to scabies. Your initial response is panic and revulsion. What is scabies anyway? What should you do?

First of all, don't panic. Scabies does not come from being unclean, as some people think. Scabies is a parasitic infestation of the skin. Tiny mites burrow under the skin, causing intense itching. Symptoms of scabies are a pimple-like rash, usually found in the webbing between fingers, in skin folds of the breast or penis and joints such as elbows and knees.

Scabies is a worldwide disease, effecting people of all races and cultures. People at higher risk for scabies are those with weakened immune systems and the elderly.

However, scabies spreads rapidly through prolonged skin contact and should be treated as soon as it is suspected. Also, anyone having prolonged contact with someone having scabies should be treated as well.

Watch your child for signs of a rash or itching. If a rash appears or your child complains of itching, call the doctor and let him/her know about the exposure to scabies. He or she will want to examine your child. To diagnose scabies, a doctor will examine the skin where the rash occurs. Usually as little as ten mites are involved, making detection difficult and a skin scraping may be used to detect the mites.

The good news is scabies is easily treated. Upon diagnosis a doctor will prescribe an FDA-approved cream or lotion that should be applied all over the body, except the head and left on for the prescribed time, sometimes overnight. After the prescribed time, the cream or lotion is washed off. Usually one treatment is all that is needed. However, the itching may continue for a few weeks. The doctor may also prescribe lotions that will soothe the itching.

Schools and day care centers, where a lot of children mingle all day, can be great spreaders of contagions. Most of these institutions are closely monitored for disease and health hazards and will notify parents of any potential problems. Being aware of the diseases that can effect your child and taking prompt action if any are suspected, will insure your child stays safe and healthy.

Learn more about this author, Donna Carroll Batton.
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