Symptoms of Scabies in Infants

Scabies is a skin condition that is caused by the burrowing of mites. These mites, Sarcoptes scabiei, are as small as the point of a pin and are in the arachnid family. Scabies can attack anyone and are easily passed from the skin of one person to another. In infants, scabies leave noticeable signs of infestation.

Itching

Itching is often a sign of scabies in infants. According to the Mayo Clinic: "The urge to scratch may be especially strong while you're in bed at night."

Tracks

Reddish colored lines or tracks in the skin is another symptom of scabies. These red lines or tracks are the path left by the mite's digging. These lines and tracks can be formed by bumps or small blisters.

Rash

With scabies, the skin can turn dry, red and itchy in the infected area. This infected area will have the appearance of a red rash. The area may also appear splotchy due to clusters or bumps or blisters.

Common Areas

Scabies can be found in any area of the body, but often affect areas where there are folds of skin. In infants, the areas most often affected are the scalp, face and neck area, the palms and soles of the feet. The area inside the fingers and toes are also common infestation areas.

Treatment

The treatment of scabies is often done with creams and lotions. The Mayo Clinic cites the medications permethrin (Elimite, Acticin) and crotamiton (Eurax) as being the most common medicines to treat scabies. Oral medications may also be given to older patients.