Scabies is a skin infection caused by mites that is very contagious and can cause intense itching. It is treated with medication (cream or tablet). To prevent further spread of scabies it is important to treat the whole household at the same time and clean household items that might have the mites or their eggs on them.
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Scabies is a skin condition caused by tiny mites (bugs) called Sarcoptes scabiei. The mites dig burrows underneath the skin where they live and lay their eggs.
Scabies spreads by prolonged skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies. This often happens with people who live in the same house. Scabies can also spread by sharing bedding, towels and clothing, although this is less common.
People who have scabies can have the following symptoms:
The symptoms of scabies are usually caused by an allergic reaction to the mites. This is why it can take as long as 6 weeks for symptoms to appear. If you have had scabies before, symptoms will usually appear sooner, within 1-4 days.
Scabies is usually treatable with no lasting complications. However, scratching can cause tears in the skin that can lead to other infections, that may spread to the rest of the body and cause heart and kidney problems.
Scabies can be difficult to diagnose. The best way to know if you have scabies is to see your doctor. They can check for signs and symptoms of scabies. Sometimes the doctor does a skin test to check but the results are not always accurate.
It is important to treat the person with scabies, the contacts in their house and clean household items that might have the mites or their eggs on them to prevent further spread.
A person who has scabies can spread it to others before symptoms like itching begin. They are usually infectious until 24 hours after starting treatment which destroys the mites and their eggs.
It is important to check with your doctor before having any treatment for scabies. This is particularly important for babies, pregnant women, the elderly and people with existing skin conditions.
Scabies treatment is usually a cream that goes on the skin (5% permethrin cream) or a tablet (ivermectin). You can buy permethrin from a pharmacy, but you will need a prescription from your doctor to buy ivermectin.
Repeat the scabies treatment in 7 days.
Itching can continue for up to a month after treatment, even when it has worked. See your doctor if itching lasts longer than 4 weeks after treatment.
Treat all household contacts and close contacts over the last month, including sexual contacts, for scabies at the same time. Treat even if they do not show any symptoms.
Hot wash (at least 50 °C) bedding, towels and clothing used by the person who has scabies in the 3 days before treatment. Put items that can’t be washed in a sealed plastic bag for 8 days to kill any mites and their eggs. Vacuum mattresses, soft furniture and floors.
To stop scabies infestation happening again and passing scabies on to others, it is important to:
Yes, you do not become immune to scabies. It is important to treat household and close contacts at the same time to stop re-infestation.
Human scabies do not survive on animals. This means that you cannot pass human scabies to your pet. Similarly, other species of mites from animals cannot breed on humans and do not cause ongoing infestation.
Scabies is not a notifiable disease in NSW. NSW Health does not need to be informed of cases of scabies.
Contact your doctor or healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (24 hours 7 days a week) for free health information, advice and assistance to find a doctor.
