How to treat a scabies mite? - briefly
Effective treatment requires applying a scabicidal medication—commonly permethrin 5 % cream or oral ivermectin—to the whole body and repeating the dose after seven days. Simultaneously treat household members and launder bedding, clothing, and towels in hot water to prevent recurrence.
How to treat a scabies mite? - in detail
Scabies is caused by the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabiei that burrows into the epidermis, producing intense itching and a characteristic rash. Accurate diagnosis relies on clinical examination of typical lesions and, when available, microscopic identification of mites, eggs, or fecal pellets from skin scrapings.
The primary pharmacologic options are:
- 5 % permethrin cream applied to the entire body from the neck down (including scalp in infants) and left on for 8–14 hours before washing off; repeat after one week.
- Oral ivermectin at a dose of 200 µg/kg, taken as a single dose and repeated after 7 days; a second dose may be required for severe or crusted cases.
- Sulfur ointment (5–10 %) for infants, pregnant women, or individuals intolerant to the above agents; applied nightly for 3 days, then twice weekly for 2 weeks.
Supporting measures include:
- Washing all clothing, bedding, and towels used within the previous 72 hours in hot water (≥50 °C) and drying on high heat; items that cannot be laundered should be sealed in plastic for at least 72 hours.
- Treating household contacts simultaneously, regardless of symptom presence, to prevent reinfestation.
- Applying antihistamines or topical corticosteroids to alleviate pruritus, especially during the first week of treatment when itching may persist despite parasite eradication.
Monitoring involves reassessment of skin lesions and symptom resolution 2–4 weeks after therapy. Persistent rash warrants repeat treatment, evaluation for secondary infection, or consideration of alternative agents such as benzyl benzoate or crotamiton. Resistance to permethrin is rare but reported; in such cases, ivermectin monotherapy or combination regimens are advisable.