A physician must prescribe special medication to kill the scabies mite.  There is no over-the-counter product available.

The prescribed cream or lotion is applied to all areas of the body from the neck down and is washed off in 8-24 hours, depending on the product.

Keep fingernails clean and well trimmed.

Bathe in cool water using mild soap.

Bedding and clothing should be decontaminated by machine washing and drying in hot cycle, or it may be dry-cleaned, or removed from body contact for at least 72 hours.

Check all family members and treat those who are infested at the same time.

Everyone in the family should wash hands often, shampoo hair frequently, wear clean clothes daily, and not exchange clothes with others.

Remember, itching may continue for several weeks.  If there is no improvement in one week, take the child back to the doctor to see if retreatment or a different product may be needed.
Scabies
Scabies
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Definition
Scabies is an intensely itchy rash caused by a mite.
The mite is passed from person to person by skin-to-skin contact or by contact with contaminated clothing or linens.  Scabies among adults may be sexually transmitted, but among children, this is rare.  Outbreaks can occur in schools and daycare centers.
Cause
The most prominent symptom is itching.  For itching to happen, sensitization must occur.  Among persons with their initial infestation, sensitization takes several weeks to appear.

Itching may occur within 24 hours after reinfestation.  The typical allergic rash and severe itching is usually present in 1-4 days.  Itching is most severe at night.
Symptoms
The mite burrows in and out of the skin.  The characteristic burrow appears as a thin line ending in a little red bump or blister.  Not everyone has the burrow sign, however.  The characteristic rash is red and raised, and it bears no relation to the number of mites or their location.
Itching usually continues for 1-2 weeks after treatment and should not be considered to be a sign of drug failure or reinfestation.
The rash is usually found between the fingers or toes, on the wrists, elbows, genitalia, ankles, feet, palms and nipples.  Scabies does not affect the face except occasionally in infants.
Complications
Secondary bacterial infection can develop.

Eczema can occur.

A skin inflammation can develop as a result of reaction to the medication used to treat scabies.
Treatment