Scabies Prevention

Infections of Scabies are very contagious and epidemics of Scabies spread most easily in extremely crowded areas where there is a lot of close contact such as daycare centers and schools. Scabies is also spread by sexual contact so it is also considered a sexual transmitted disease.

The best way to prevent Scabies is to avoid any contact with an infected person. Scabies is mostly transmitted by skin to skin contact or sexual contact with an infected person. Infections of Scabies spread easily in crowded areas such as childcare centers and school where there is close contact between the children.

For prevention, if there is an infection in your child’s class or childcare center, it would probably be best to treat your child anyway, as mite infections take several months to start the symptoms of intense itching.

Even though a person is infested with Scabies, the symptoms do not appear for up to 2 months. During this time, the person is still contagious and can still spread the infection. Treatment for Scabies is recommended by most medical personnel for all members of the household of an infected person. Adults and children should not return to school, daycare or work until after treatment.

Mites can live up to 3 days in bedding, clothes or dust. If someone in your household is infected it is best to wash all bedding, clothing and towels in hot, soapy water and dry with high heat. Each room should be vacuumed and the cleaner bag should be immediately thrown away. Those items that can’t be washed should be placed in a plastic bag that can be sealed and put in a place such as the garage for a few weeks. The mites will die from starvation in that time.

Scabies is a parasitic skin infection which is extremely contagious and care should be taken to prevent the spread of Scabies infestations.