Signs and Symptoms
Although the entire body may itch, the most common locations for the lesions of scabies in older children and adults include:
- The areas between the fingers (finger webs)
- Inner wrists, inner elbows, and armpits
- Breasts of females and genitalia of males
- Navel (umbilicus)
- Lower abdomen
- Buttocks
- Backs of knees
In young children, the lesions of scabies are most commonly seen on the:
- Trunk, arms, and legs
- Head and neck
- Palms of the hands and soles of the feet
The most obvious signs of scabies are pink-to-red bumps, which can look like pimples or bug bites. However, the tell-tale lesion of scabies is the burrow, which is small, subtle, and difficult to detect. Typically, a burrow appears as a fine, thread-like, scaly line (3–10 mm long), sometimes with a tiny black speck (the burrowing mite) at one end.
Scabies is intensely itchy, especially at night.
Scratching the itchy lesions can create breaks in the skin, and these breaks can become infected with bacteria.
People who are exposed to scabies may not develop itchy lesions for up to 6 weeks after becoming infested, as the immune system takes some time to recognize the mites and develop an allergic response to them. However, individuals who have had scabies before may develop the rash within several days of re-exposure.
Who's At Risk
