Scabies is a common itchy skin condition caused by a tiny mite, the Sarcoptes scabiei. According to Aetna InteliHealth, this contagious mite infestation is typically transmitted by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, such as sexual contact, and can also spread by using bedding or clothes of someone who is affected. Scabies must be diagnosed and treated by a doctor, who differentiates it from other skin disorders and selects the proper prescription medicine to eradicate it. After treatment, efforts should be made to prevent recurrence and further spread.
Vulnerable Populations
People who are especially susceptible to getting scabies include those with multiple sex partners and anyone living in crowded conditions. Health care workers, including nursing home staff and daycare staff, are also at higher risk, reports Aetna InteliHealth. A higher incidence of scabies has also been reported in prisons.
Measures for Washable Items
To kill scabies mites and eggs, all of an infected person's clothes, bedding and towels should be washed in hot water and dried with high heat in the dryer for at least 20 minutes, reports MayoClinic.com and the Michigan Department of Community Health. The water temperature in the washing machine should be set to the hottest possible.
The procedure for a patient's washable items, including bedding and clothes, should be performed both before and after treatment has been completed, reports the Michigan Department of Community Health. Items that can't be washed at home should be taken to a dry cleaner.
Measures for Nonwashable Items
Items that can't be put in a washing machine, such as coats, shoes or a big pillow, should be sealed in a plastic bag and stored in a remote area, such as the garage, for at least a week, according to MayoClinic.com and Aetna InteliHealth.
Alternative procedures for nonwashable items are to place them in a dryer for at least 20 minutes at a hot temperature, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. Another option is to seal items in a plastic bag and freeze them for 12 hours, as this temperature kills the mites.
Procedures for Close Contacts
MayoClinic.com and Aetna InteliHealth recommends that all family members, close contacts and sexual partners of a person with scabies should be treated as well to prevent further spread, even if they are not currently infected. Sexual partners should be notified and treated for scabies, recommends the American Academy of Family Physicians. Sexually active teenagers, in particular, should be examined for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
For institutions such as hospitals or nursing homes, the Michigan Department of Community Health recommends treating all personal care workers and staff with symptoms with a scabicide within 24 hours of a scabies outbreak.
Recommendations for the Home
A thorough cleanup of rooms where infected persons have used should be conducted and all rugs should be vacuumed, reports the Michigan Department of Community Health. MayoClinic.com recommends vacuuming every room in the house, after which the vacuum bag should be discarded.
Using insect sprays or fumigating agents is not recommended for furniture, baby carriers or child seats. Such agents should not be used on carpets either.
Monitoring Symptoms After Treatment
People with scabies should monitor their symptoms after treatment is given, reports the Michigan Department of Community Health. This should be done on a weekly basis.
If symptom severity is not reduced after two weeks, the doctor should be contacted. In these cases, the diagnosis may be reconsidered or a different treatment given. Patients should keep in mind, however, that some degree of itching may persist for a few weeks even though the scabies mite is eradicated.
