Scabies in Toddlers - Symptoms and Treatment

By GreatDad Writers

Print

The word scabies is Latin for "itch" and that’s exactly what your toddlers will do when they catch this infection. Scabies are most commonly small mites (1/60th of an inch long), which infest the skin. The risk of contagion is very high as scabies can be caught by being in skin to skin contact. It is very likely for your toddlers to pass the infection on to other family members.

The symptoms will generally proceed from:

Stage One skin irritation to
Stage Two itchiness around hands and fingers to
Stage Three bilateral rashes on knees and elbows

Small pustules and blisters are commonly noticed in toddlers. Boys may develop nodules on their scrotum and penis.

Treatment

A topical ointment/medication prescribed by your doctor will usually take care of the problem. Applying 5% permethrin cream or lotion (Elimite), available by prescription, to a child's entire body constitutes a typical treatment.

Don’t forget to:

Apply the cream also on the unaffected part of your toddler’s body
Apply cream between toes and fingers and under arms
Wash hands in the morning as toddlers tend to suck on their fingers
Repeat treatment in case of repeated rashes

Scabies takes at least 2-3 weeks to be treated. So parents need not worry and should apply the treatment regularly till the symptoms finally go away.

Disclaimer: The above information is commonsense reflection drawn from general experience. If you are looking for expert medical advice, please consult your doctor.

Subscribe to the pregnancy newsletter or 4-8 year olds newsletter.

Email this | Print

Login with Facebook

Post a Comment


First Name:
City:
Email Address:
Comments:	Total Words: (400 words*)
	Enter the characters you see in the image. They are case sensitive.

Shopping

Article List

	Five Pediatrician Wishes for a Healthy Preschooler
	Obesity Seen in 1 in 5 American Preschoolers
	Run! It's Lice
	Steps to Take to Lessen Lead Poisoning Risk
	Questions to Ask Yourself If You're Worried about Lead
	Does Your Toddler Have A Problem With Stuttering?
	Accurate Acetaminophen Dosage
	Watch out for poisoning
	Banish bad breath
	Giving CPR to Toddlers
	Stocking a Medicine Chest for your Toddler
	Toddlers and Pink Eye
	Knowing your Antibiotics - and their dangers

All section articles

1 2 3

Catching Scabies