Scabies on adults and older children may be found most often between the fingers, in the armpits, the waist, the insides of wrists, on inner elbows, soles of the feet, around the breasts, around male genitalia, on the buttocks, and on the knees.
Infants and younger children may also be afflicted. In this age group, infestation usually occurs on the scalp, palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
For individuals experiencing infestation for the first time, these symptoms may take as long as six weeks to start appearing. For repeat infestations, the signs and symptoms arrive within a few days of exposure. Carriers can spread scabies even if they are asymptomatic.
How Can Scabies Be Treated?
Scabies mites and their eggs can be killed with products called scabicides. But you will need a doctor’s prescription to purchase this treatment. One such treatment is Permethrin lotion, which doesn’t only treat scabies but also lice. However, the concentration in treating scabies is slightly higher.
Always follow your doctors’ and pharmacists’ instructions, as well as those inside or on the box. Adults and older children using scabicide cream or lotion should apply it all over the whole body, as well as to the head and neck. This then must stay on the body for a period of time before it is washed off. Afflicted persons must wear clean clothes afterwards.
To prevent reinfestation, everyone with scabies must undergo treatment at the same time. Repeat treatment can become necessary if itching does not stop for over two to four week, or if new burrows or rashes appear.
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