Scabies

Scabies is a contagious and annoying skin infection caused by the mange mite. Scabies mite is a small spider-like parasite that nests in the superficial layer of skin or the horny layer.

The infection is transmitted through human dander that is infected with the mange mite. Thus, you can get scabies from physical contact lasting longer than fifteen minutes, by sleeping in infected sheets or wearing contaminated clothing.

The main symptom people experience is itching. Itching is present all over the body, but mostly in the warm places such as the body folds. Itching is most pronounced at night and can be so intense that it can disturb sleep. You may also see bumps on the skin. These are usually located between the fingers or toes and on the wrists or ankles.

The diagnosis is made based on what the dermatologist sees with the naked eye and usually also with the dermatoscope. The mite can be seen with the dermatoscope at the end of a tunnel.

To properly treat scabies, the patient, family members and those with whom there is close contact should be treated.

• It is also important to wash all clothing and sheets from the last three days at 60°C. If they cannot be washed so hot: store these items for three days in a sealed bag.
• The first-choice treatment in Belgium is a cream treatment with Zalvor (permethrin 5% cream). It should be applied from head to toe in the evening, left on for the entire night and washed off in the morning. This treatment should be repeated after a week.
• Sometimes, we find that treatment is inadequate. In that case, there are other cream treatments (benzyl benzoate cream). These are preparted by the pharmacist and are applied following a different schedule.
• There is also a pill treatment with Stromectol (ivermectin). The tablets are only available through the hospital pharmacy or must be imported from abroad.

Latest publication date: 15/05/2024