What will happen if scabies mite is not treated? - briefly
Without treatment, the mite infestation causes persistent itching and skin lesions that can become infected, leading to cellulitis or impetigo. Prolonged infection may evolve into crusted scabies, a highly contagious condition that spreads rapidly and can cause severe systemic complications.
What will happen if scabies mite is not treated? - in detail
Untreated scabies infestation progresses through several stages that affect the skin, immune system, and overall health.
The initial rash, caused by the female mite burrowing into the epidermis, intensifies over weeks. Intense itching becomes constant, especially at night, leading to repeated scratching. Continuous trauma to the skin creates excoriations, crusted lesions, and secondary bacterial infections such as impetigo, cellulitis, or erysipelas. These infections may spread locally or enter the bloodstream, potentially causing sepsis in vulnerable individuals.
If the condition persists for months, a hyper‑infested form known as crusted (Norwegian) scabies can develop. In this variant, millions of mites occupy thick, scaly plaques that cover large body areas. The high mite burden accelerates transmission to close contacts and healthcare workers, creating outbreaks in institutions such as nursing homes, prisons, or hospitals.
Chronic scratching also leads to:
- Lichenification: thickened, leathery skin due to repeated irritation.
- Post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation: darkened patches that may remain after lesions heal.
- Psychological distress: anxiety, sleep disruption, and reduced quality of life.
Complications are more severe in immunocompromised patients, the elderly, and young children. In these groups, infection can progress rapidly, and mortality risk rises if secondary bacterial sepsis is not promptly treated.
Effective management requires timely diagnosis, appropriate acaricidal therapy, and treatment of any bacterial superinfection. Delaying intervention increases morbidity, spreads the infestation, and elevates the risk of life‑threatening complications.