What it is
It is treated with an insecticide cream or lotion applied to the whole body and repeated after a week. Everyone in the household should be treated at the same time.
Bedding, towels and clothes should be washed at 50°C or higher. Itching can continue for a few weeks after treatment.
Common signs
- Intense itching, worse at night
- A rash of small spots, often between the fingers, on the wrists, armpits or genitals
- Thin silvery lines on the skin (burrows)
- Scratch marks
How it is usually diagnosed
- Looking at the skin
- Sometimes a skin scraping
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- GP or dermatology notes
- Prescriptions
Questions to ask your doctor
- Who in my household needs treatment?
- How should I apply the treatment?
- How long will the itching last?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Crusted, thickened skin spreading over large areas, or signs of infection with a fever: see a doctor the same day
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.