Scabies in Children

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), scabies symptoms typically take between two weeks and six weeks to appear, though a person infected with the mite can still spread it. Symptoms include itchiness and a skin rash commonly found between fingers or on the wrist, elbow, waist or shoulder blades (See References 1).
  
  Although anyone can be affected by scabies, children and young adults are most commonly infected, according to Children's Hospital Boston. Because scabies is easily transmitted through those with the infection, child care facilities may be common breeding grounds. However, children usually are able to go back to school the day following treatment (See References 2).
  
  The CDC recommends that any items that come into direct contact with the skin, such as bed sheets, clothing and stuffed animals, should be washed with hot water---mites typically cannot survive for more than three days away from human skin. In addition, all members of the household and any other person who may have had direct skin contact with an infected person should receive treatment the same day (See References 1).
  
  According to Children's Hospital Boston, a pediatrician will determine the best treatment options for children based on their age, health and tolerance of specific medications (See References 2).
  
  Treatment includes scabicide lotions or creams that kill mites and their eggs. According to the CDC,currently no over-the-counter medications have been proven to treat scabies. For use of the creams or lotions in children, the CDC suggests applying the medication to their heads and necks---for adults, only the neck down is necessary---as children youger than the age of 2 tend to get lesions on the head. Lesions tend to appear elsewhere in older children (See References 1).