My two year old was just diagnosed with scabies! Now what?
Scabies is a highly contagious parasite that is spread via skin-to-skin contact between people. Scabies causes an intensely itchy rash that is worse at night. Besides treating the skin of the infected person with 5 percent permethrin cream, it is recommended that all household contacts be treated, regardless of symptoms.
In addition, all clothing and bed and bath linens of the infected person should be washed in hot water and machine dried. Carpets should be vacuumed thoroughly and vacuum bags changed. The whole process should be repeated in a week to make sure all mites have been eliminated. Have your child rechecked by her doctor in two weeks to make sure she is improving. If she attends school or daycare, it is important to let them know about her diagnosis so they can be sure their surroundings are cleaned properly as well.
Reviewed by Dr. Sara Connolly, April 2019
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