How to eliminate scabies mites in a person? - briefly
Apply a scabicidal agent such as 5 % permethrin cream to the whole body, leave it on for 8–14 hours, and repeat the treatment after 7 days; alternatively, a single oral dose of ivermectin (200 µg/kg) can be used. Wash all clothing, bedding, and towels in hot water and dry on high heat to prevent reinfestation.
How to eliminate scabies mites in a person? - in detail
Scabies infestation requires a two‑pronged approach: pharmacologic eradication of the parasite and thorough decontamination of the immediate environment.
The primary medication is a 5 % permethrin cream applied to the entire body from the neck down, left on for 8–14 hours, then washed off. A single application is sufficient for most patients; a second dose after 7 days eliminates newly hatched mites that survived the first treatment. Oral ivermectin, 200 µg/kg as a single dose, can be used when topical therapy is contraindicated or in severe cases; a repeat dose after 7 days is recommended.
Additional agents such as sulfur ointment (5 % in petroleum jelly) are effective for infants and pregnant women, applied nightly for three consecutive days.
Environmental control measures include:
- Washing all clothing, bedding, and towels used within the previous 72 hours in hot water (≥50 °C) and drying on high heat for at least 20 minutes.
- Sealing items that cannot be laundered in a plastic bag for a minimum of 72 hours; the mite cannot survive without a host for longer than this period.
- Vacuuming carpets, upholstered furniture, and mattresses; discarding the vacuum bag or cleaning the canister immediately afterward.
- Treating household members and close contacts with the same regimen, regardless of symptom presence, to prevent reinfestation.
Patients should avoid scratching to reduce secondary bacterial infection risk. Follow‑up evaluation after the second treatment confirms resolution; persistent lesions may indicate treatment failure, resistance, or misdiagnosis and warrant alternative therapy such as benzyl benzoate or repeated ivermectin courses.
Adherence to the medication schedule, combined with rigorous cleaning of personal items and living spaces, ensures complete removal of scabies mites from the individual and prevents recurrence.