Scabies is a very contagious skin condition that occurs due to infestation with parasitic mites. The mite responsible for causing scabies in people is a microscopic organism called Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Although there are many other types of mites that cause scabies in animals, they are not capable of infesting humans.

Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis can be acquired either directly, by entering in contact with infested persons, or indirectly, by entering in contact with contaminated objects. Once they find a human host, scabies mites climb onto the skin and hide in less exposed regions of the body. Scabies mites commonly infest the toes, feet, ankles, knees, the genitals, the buttocks, the upper back, elbows and wrists. Rarely, scabies mites can even infest the scalp and face.

While the first symptoms of scabies may occur within a week after acquiring the parasitic mites, the first clear signs of infestation can be spotted only after a few weeks. In the incipient stages of infestation, scabies generates symptoms such as persistent itching, skin inflammation and rash. Later symptoms include the presence of burrows in the superficial layers of the skin, blisters, pustules and even nodules. It is very important to avoid scratching, as it can lead to serious skin infections.

An appropriate medical treatment for scabies should be targeted towards eradicating the mite infestation as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the treatment for scabies should also ease the symptoms generated at the level of the skin.

Due to scabies mites