Scabies Treatment

Lifestyle Modifications

To prevent the spread of scabies mites and reduce the risk of re-infestation.

• Wash all bedding, clothing, and towels used by infested individuals at 60°C (140°F) or higher on the first day of treatment.· If possible, use a hot dryer to ensure mites are killed.
• Seal items that cannot be washed (e.g., stuffed animals, non-washable clothing) in a plastic bag for at least 3 days.· Mites cannot survive away from a human host for more than 2-3 days.
• Avoid close physical contact, including sexual contact, and do not share bedding, clothing, or towels until the full course of treatment is completed.· This prevents re-infestation and spread to others.

Medicinal Treatment

To eradicate the Sarcoptes scabiei mites from the skin and alleviate symptoms.

• Topical Permethrin Cream (5%)· The most common and effective treatment, applied to the entire body from the neck down, left on for 8-14 hours, and then washed off. A second application is usually recommended 7 days later.
• Topical Malathion Lotion (0.5%)· An alternative topical treatment, applied similarly to permethrin, especially useful if permethrin is not suitable or effective.
• Oral Ivermectin· Prescribed for severe cases, crusted scabies, or when topical treatments are difficult to apply (e.g., in nursing homes). Taken as a single dose, repeated after 7-14 days.

Always consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment, especially for children under 2 years old, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or those with weakened immune systems.

Surgical Treatment

Surgical intervention is not a primary treatment for scabies.

• No direct surgical intervention is required for the treatment of scabies infestation.· Scabies is a parasitic skin condition managed effectively with topical and oral medications.
• Surgical procedures are not part of the standard treatment protocol for eradicating scabies mites.· The focus of treatment is on antiparasitic agents to kill the mites.
• In rare cases, severe secondary bacterial skin infections (e.g., impetigo) resulting from scratching may require drainage of abscesses.· This is a treatment for a complication, not the scabies itself.