| • | caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis |
| • | the female excavates a burrow in the stratum corneum (only enters underlying epidermis in Norwegian scabies) |
epidemiology:
| • | transmission of scabies occurs during direct skin contact with an infected person |
clinical:
| • | the most characteristic features of the lesions are pleomorphism and the tendency to remain discrete and small |
| • | persistent nodular lesions, most commonly found on scrotum, may remain after appropriate therapy and require treatment with intralesional kenalog (may result from persisting antigens of mite parts) |
neonates/ infants:
| • | infants, more frequently than adults, have widespread involvement |
| • | lesions, often vesicular or pustular, may be most numerous on the palms and soles of infants (highly characteristic) |
| • | the scalp and face, rarely involved in adults, occasionally are infested in infants |
| • | burrows, which are the classic primary lesion in scabies, are found less often in the neonatal period |
diagnosis:
| • | non-excoriated papules and vesicles may be sampled, but do not usually contain the eggs or egg casings found in an established burrow |
treatment: see SCABIES TREATMENT
| • | ivermectin 200µg/kg single dose (repeat in 2 weeks) |
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