How can you Manage and Control the Threat of Scabies

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.