What is scabies?

Information for the public

Scabies is an extremely itchy skin disorder that leads to a rash. It is caused by a tiny parasite, the scabies mite, getting into the skin. Most of the symptoms of scabies are due to the body's response to the saliva, eggs and waste products of the mite.

People who are unable to feel an itch or who cannot scratch for some reason, or who have immune system disorders (for example, HIV), can have more mites than in a normal infection. This causes 'crusted scabies'. In crusted scabies, the outer layer of the skin thickens and forms scaly patches or crusts.

A person can get scabies from close physical contact with someone with scabies (for example, by hand holding for a long time, by having sexual intercourse, or by sharing a bed). People with crusted scabies can spread the disease more easily because they have more mites. People can get scabies from people with crusted scabies through contact with their bedding, towels, clothes, and upholstery.

Scabies needs to be treated as it won't get better on its own. However scabies can be cured.

If a person has scabies, the people that they live with, as well as people they have had close contact with also need to be treated for scabies. Everyone needs to be treated at the same time (in the same 24 hours), even if they do not have any symptoms. This is because people can pass on scabies to others before they get any symptoms. Not everyone needs to receive the same treatment for scabies for the treatment to work.