Scabies

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Scabies?

Let's see if your child has scabies infestation.
Pharmacist
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Scabies is caused by the human itch mite when the female burrow into the upper layer of the skin to live and lay eggs.

When first infested with scabies mites, one usually won't know for up to 2 to 6 weeks.

But one can spread it during this time even though there are no symptoms.

If your child had it before, the symptoms show up more quickly (about 1 to 4 days).

A quick note to let you know that there is no over-the-counter medication to get rid of scabies.

These medications are only available with a doctor's prescription.

The goal here is to help you make a reasonable decision as to whether you are looking at scabies or not so your child can quickly get treatment and stop spreading it.

FYI Continue

 

 

 

Scabies

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Is it scabies?

Is he or she expriencing severe itching especially at night?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?

 

What about itching with rash that look like pimples?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?

 

Does he or she have itching between the fingers?

Between the toes?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
This is a sign of scabies infestation.
Pharmacist

 

What about itching on the wrist?
(mainly the inner part)

Itching in the elbows?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Start thinking scabies if these apply to your child.
Pharmacist

Signs of scabies include:

  • Severe itching especially at night.
  • Itching between the fingers and toes.
  • Itching in the elbows and wrists.

 

Is there itching in the buttocks, penis?

Or armpit?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Think scabies if the symptoms listed below apply to your child.
Pharmacist

Signs of scabies include:

  • Severe itching especially at night.
  • Itching between the fingers and toes.
  • Itching in the elbows and wrists.
  • Itching in the armpit, buttocks, penis

Let's look for burrows caused by the female scabies mite tunneling just beneath the skin surface.

Or you can continue to answer a few more questions.

Find Burrows

 

Is everyone in the house also itching?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Suspect scabies if most of the symptoms listed below apply.
Pharmacist

Signs of scabies include:

  • Severe itching especially at night.
  • Itching between the fingers and toes.
  • Itching in the elbows and wrists.
  • Itching in the armpit, buttocks, penis
  • Other people are itching in the house.

The diagnosis is usually made based on the presence of burrows. Also based on the appearance and distribution of the rash.

Let's look for burrows caused by the female scabies mite tunneling just beneath the skin surface.

Continue

 


Those were signs of a scabies infestation.
Pharmacist

If they do apply to the child, don't panic yet.

The diagnosis of scabies is usually made based on the presence of burrows. Also based on the appearance and distribution of the rash.

Let's look for burrows caused by the female scabies mite tunneling just beneath the skin surface.

Continue

 

 

 

 

Scabies

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Look for burrows

You will look for S-shaped, tiny, raised, grayish-white or skin-colored lines on the skin surface.
Pharmacist

Let's get started and see if we can come up with anything like that.

 

Look in-between the fingers and skin folds on the wrist.

Did you find these lines?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Alright, try to ID the mite or mite eggs if you can.
Pharmacist

Carefully remove the mite from the end of its burrow using the tip of a needle if you can. If not, take the child to the nearest urgent care clinic or call the pediatrician.

Only prescription lotions or creams are effective to treat scabies.

You might be tempted to try other things first like using tea tree oil and so on, but if you want your child to get some sleep at night, better take him or her to the doctor.

Would you like to find the nearest urgent care clinic to you or Continue?

Urgent Care

 

Now, look in-between the skin folds on the elbows.

Anything that look like S-shaped lines?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Alright, try to ID the mite or mite eggs if you can.
Pharmacist

Carefully remove the mite from the end of its burrow using the tip of a needle if you can.

Only prescription lotions or creams are effective to treat scabies.

You may be tempted to try other things first like using tea tree oil and so on, but if you want your child to get some sleep at night, better take him or her to the doctor.

Would you like to find the nearest urgent care clinic to you or Continue?

Urgent Care

 

Take a look at the skin folds on the knees.

Do you find any lines?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Alright, try to ID the mite or mite eggs if you can.
Pharmacist

Carefully remove the mite from the end of its burrow using the tip of a needle if you can.

Only prescription lotions or creams are effective to treat scabies.

You may be tempted to try other things first like using tea tree oil and so on, but if you want your child to get some sleep at night, better take him or her to the doctor.

Would you like to find the nearest urgent care clinic to you or Continue?

Urgent Care

 

What about on the breast and shoulder blades?

Anything?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Alright, try to ID the mite or mite eggs if you can.
Pharmacist

Only prescription lotions or creams are effective to treat scabies.

You might be tempted to try other things first like using tea tree oil and so on, but if you want your child to get some sleep at night, better take him or her to the doctor.

Would you like to find the nearest urgent care clinic to you or Continue?

Urgent Care

 


You should know by now if you are looking at scabies or not.
Pharmacist

The diagnosis is usually made based on the presence of burrows and the appearance and distribution of the rash.

Seek urgent care if:

  • Most people in your household are all itching at the same time
  • Itching is severe
  • Itching inbetween the webbings of the fingers, toes, fold of the elbows or armpits
  • Itching more especially at night.

But for now, give the child an antihistamine like benadryl or zyrtec to help with the itching until you get to the doctor.

Would you like to visit the nearest urgent care clinic?

There is nothing over-the-counter that will work if you are thinking scabies. So no need to send you to a pharmacist.

Nearest Urgent Care