Early Stage Scabies
Early stage scabies is impossible for most people to identify in themselves or in others, as this highly-contagious skin condition usually isn't noticeable for weeks after exposure to the scabies mite. However, when signs and symptoms of scabies do appear, it is cause for immediate treatment that requires a visit to your physician.
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Scabies: The Earliest Stage
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According to the Centers for Disease Control, overt signs or symptoms of scabies don't present for two to six weeks--possibly up to two months. If you've had scabies before, you may notice symptoms much earlier, usually one to four days after being exposed to the mite. However, during the time when you don't have signs of a scabies infestation, you can still give scabies to others when you engage in close physical contact.
First Indications
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Scabies mites are microscopic, so you won't be able to see them if they're on your body. The first symptoms of scabies are intense itching that's worse at night. A red, pimple-like rash erupts on the skin due to an allergic reaction to the proteins and feces the mite leaves under your skin. The rash could be present all over your body, or it could be limited to specific areas.
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Other Defining Features
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Some people may note the presence of "burrows"--the part of the skin where the female scabies mite lays her eggs. In adults, scabies tend to inhabit areas like the webbing between the fingers, the crook of the elbow, the inside of the wrist, around the waist, around the nipples and genitals and between the shoulder blades. Scabies burrows in children are more often found in the neck area and scalp, as well as on the palms and soles. Burrows appear as slightly-raised, zig-zag patterns that are pink or gray.
Getting Rid of Scabies
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Treatment with prescription medications is effective in treating early stage scabies signs and symptoms, so a visit to a physician is required. A doctor can make an affirmative diagnosis of scabies and recommend a medicated lotion (usually containing either permethrin or crotamiton as their active ingredient). The lotion is applied to all parts of the body from the neck down and rinsed off after eight to 14 hours. Scabies can live away from human hosts for up to three days, so clothing, bedding, towels, and linens should be washed in hot water and dried on high heat. Anything that cannot be washed should be stored in airtight containers and placed outside the home for at least three days, according to the CDC, although the American Social Health Association recommends storage for at least two weeks.
Care for Others
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According to the CDC, no one is immune from scabies, although scabies infestations are more common where people exist in close proximity, such as prisons, nursing homes, hospitals and day care facilities. Adults usually acquire scabies through sexual contact. If you have a scabies infestation and have had close physical contact with others, it's important to inform them so they too can receive treatment and take preventive steps to avoid passing scabies to anyone else.
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