Key points about scabies
- scabies is caused by a reaction to a tiny mite which digs under the skin and lays eggs
- small blisters form on the skin and the skin gets very itchy
- the redness and small blisters look like a rash on the skin
- the scabies rash may start anywhere and can happen to anyone
- scabies spreads very easily between whānau (family) members
Everyone in the house needs treatment at the same time to get rid of scabies.
If your child has scabies, keep them at home until at least one day after treatment with scabies cream or lotion.
Causes of scabies
Scabies is caused by a reaction to tiny mites that are so small you can't see them. Mites are a type of insect. The mites burrow under the skin surface and lay eggs as they go. The skin rash is a reaction to the mites, the mite poo, and the mite eggs.
How scabies spreads
Anyone can get scabies. It is more common when lots of people are in close contact. Washing with soap doesn't stop it.
Scabies spreads from one person to another by skin-to-skin contact, and by sharing bedding, clothing or towels used by a person with scabies.
Signs and symptoms of scabies
One of the first symptoms of scabies is a very itchy rash. The scabies rash looks like lots of small blisters surrounded by red patches. The rash is usually worse when your child is warm like after a shower or when they’re in bed.
Symptoms usually start 3 to 6 weeks after getting the scabies mite. But, if you've had scabies before, the rash can start after only 1 to 3 days.
The most common places for the rash are:
- between your child's fingers and toes
- on their wrists
- inside their elbows
- around their waist
- on their bottom or genitals
Tamariki (children) often get a rash all over their body.
Not all people with scabies will be itchy. So people can spread scabies even if they don't have symptoms.
What to do if your child has scabies
See a health professional
Scabies will not go away without treatment.
A health professional will prescribe a scabies cream or lotion to kill the mites. If your child is under 2 years old, they may need a different treatment so check with your health professional.
The most common cream or lotion is called permethrin.
Treat everyone in the household
Get enough scabies cream or lotion to treat everyone in the household. Treat everyone even if they don't have a rash or itch. Otherwise, scabies will keep spreading between whānau members.
Treat everyone on the same day
Apply scabies cream or lotion to everyone in the whānau or household on the same day, just before going to bed.
Apply cream or lotion all over
The scabies cream or lotion has to go all over the body, from head to toe - including the soles of the feet. Be sure to cover between the toes and fingers, armpits, tummy button, genitals and buttocks.
Leave overnight
Make sure to leave the scabies cream or lotion on overnight, for at least 8 hours. If you wash your hands overnight, put more cream or lotion on your hands.
Wash linen in hot water
On the morning after putting the scabies cream or lotion on everyone, you also need to wash all sheets, pillow cases, towels and clothes in hot water. Or, you need to put these things into a sealed plastic bag for 7 days to kill the mites. This is important to help stop scabies from spreading between whānau members.
Hang blankets outside
On the morning after putting the scabies cream or lotion on everyone, hang quilts, duvets and blankets outside for a day so the sun can help kill any mites in the bedding.
Check all family members
Check all whānau members for scabies.
What to do if scabies gets worse
Once you have killed the scabies mites with the scabies cream or lotion, the rash will stop spreading. The rash can still be itchy for up to 4 weeks.
You may also need to repeat the treatment for the whole whānau with the scabies cream or lotion.
Occasionally, scabies can be resistant to treatment with the cream or lotion. If you have already done 2 treatments with the cream or lotion, you may need a different kind of treatment. Talk to your health professional about this.
The rash can become infected. See a health professional if the rash gets redder, warm, starts swelling or has pus. This could mean the skin is getting infected (cellulitis).
When to keep your child home from school or daycare
Keep your child at home until at least one day after treatment with the scabies cream or lotion.
Acknowledgements
Workbase and Ministry of Health printout (PDF, 189KB).
Images of scabies on this page have been reproduced from DermNet NZ.
