What Are the Treatments for Norwegian Scabies?

Norwegian scabies is not, as the name suggests, a rare form of scabies from Norway. It is just another name for the commonly referred to crusted sScabies. Norwegian scabies result from failure to treat the initial infection. Scabies results when mites burrow into the skin, causing intense itching. Below is a list of a few common treatments you can try. Always consult a doctor before undergoing any form of treatment.

Mite Killer

Mite killers come in a cream and are applied from the neck down. Leave the cream on overnight, then wash it off in the morning. The application process is generally repeated every seven days for best results.

Oral Medication

An alternative option to messy creams is taking an oral medication, ivermectin. Although more convenient, ivermectin can be more hazardous to the body and should be taken only as a strict alternative to the cream. It has also been shown to be less effective. It is generally taken every two weeks.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines such as Benadryl can be taken to alleviate the aggravation of itching. However, these will only reduce the discomfort of the mites, but not get rid of them entirely.

Wash

Mites don't survive long when taken away from the body. Washing your bedding and pajamas in hot water can be an effective way of killing mites and removing the chance of infection. It is generally not necessary to wash all of your clothes or rugs, as chances are any mites that may have found their way on these things are already dead.

Family Members

If you find you have been infected by the mites, it is recommended that in addition to yourself, anyone you commonly come into contact with should also undergo treatment. Eliminating the mites will be useless if they can easily be contracted again by anybody to whom you may have passed them.