What Are the Treatments for Scabies in Children?
The treatment options for scabies, also known as the human itch mite, are the same for children as they are for adults. However, the areas of the body infested by the mite may differ in children. You may also need to find ways to make your child more comfortable after treatment is administered, as severe itching can persist for up to a week.
-
Is it Scabies?
-
The scabies mite gives preference to certain areas of a child's body, including the scalp, face, neck, palms and soles of the feet. A pediatrician can generally ascertain if scabies is present by looking for the mite's characteristic "zig-zag" burrow, where the female scabies mite lays her eggs. Sometimes a scraping of your child's skin will be taken and observed under a microscope to determine the presence of the mite.
Topical Treatment
-
Treating scabies effectively requires a doctor's prescription. Your child's pediatrician may prescribe a topical lotion that goes by the name of Elimite, Acticin or Eurax. These topicals are applied all over the body and left on for at least eight hours, after which they are washed off. Because scabies is easily transmitted and has a long period of dormancy, up to two months, everyone in the household must receive treatment simultaneously.
-
Making Your Child Comfortable
-
Even after scabies is treated, severe itching can last for a week or longer. Because itching is the result of an allergic reaction to the scabies mite's feces, your child's pediatrician may recommend an oral antihistamine. Cool baths and application of soothing lotions, such as Calamine or Aveeno, may also be helpful.
Treating the Environment
-
An important measure in preventing scabies re-infestation is to treat the home environment. Your child's clothing, bedding, towels and other items should be washed in hot, soapy water and dried on high heat. Items that cannot be washed, such as pillows, jackets and stuffed animals, can be placed in plastic bags or containers and stored in the garage for up to two weeks.
Is Scabies Dangerous?
-
If your child scratches vigorously, this can result in skin sores. Breaks in the skin leave children vulnerable to bacterial infections, such as impetigo, which is caused by the staph or strep bacteria.
-
