When is scabies infectious

Because persons with crusted scabies are considered very infectious, careful vacuuming of furniture and carpets in rooms used by these persons is recommended. Back To Top. The rash and itching of scabies can persist for several weeks to a month after treatment, even if the treatment was successful and all the mites and eggs have been killed.

Your health care provider may prescribe additional medication to relieve itching if it is severe. Symptoms that persist for longer than 2 weeks after treatment can be due to a number of reasons, including:. If itching continues more than weeks or if new burrows or rash continue to appear, seek the advice of a physician; retreatment with the same or a different scabicide may be necessary.

The doctor can examine the person, confirm the diagnosis of scabies, and prescribe an appropriate treatment. Sleeping with or having sex with any scabies infested person presents a high risk for transmission. The longer a person has skin-to-skin exposure, the greater is the likelihood for transmission to occur.

Although briefly shaking hands with a person who has non-crusted scabies could be considered as presenting a relatively low risk, holding the hand of a person with scabies for minutes could be considered to present a relatively high risk of transmission. However, transmission can occur even after brief skin-to-skin contact, such as a handshake, with a person who has crusted scabies.

In general, a person who has skin-to-skin contact with a person who has crusted scabies would be considered a good candidate for treatment. To determine when prophylactic treatment should be given to reduce the risk of transmission, early consultation should be sought with a health care provider who understands:. Contact Us. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Parasites - Scabies. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. On This Page What is scabies? What is crusted Norwegian scabies? How soon after infestation do symptoms of scabies begin? What are the signs and symptoms of scabies infestation? How did I get scabies? How is scabies infestation diagnosed? How long can scabies mites live? Can scabies be treated? Who should be treated for scabies? How soon after treatment will I feel better? Did I get scabies from my pet?

Can scabies be spread by swimming in a public pool? How can I remove scabies mites from my house or carpet? How can I remove scabies mites from my clothes? My spouse and I were diagnosed with scabies. If I come in contact with a person who has scabies, should I treat myself? Fumigation of living areas is unnecessary.

Back To Top How can I remove scabies mites from my clothes? Symptoms that persist for longer than 2 weeks after treatment can be due to a number of reasons, including: Incorrect diagnosis of scabies.

It is extremely contagious, so if you have scabies your sexual partners will also need treatment. You may also see silvery lines burrow markings under your skin. Sometimes you may get small, red, raised lumps on the surface of your skin. You have the right to know if they are infected, too.

This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

Skip to navigation Skip to main content Site map Accessibility Contact us. Search this site Search all sites Search. Go to whole of WA Government Search. Open search bar Open navigation Submit search. Health conditions. Facebook Youtube Twitter. Home Health conditions Scabies sexually transmitted infection. Scabies sexually transmitted infection What is scabies? Is scabies a sexually transmitted infection? How do you get scabies? Scabies is spread through: direct skin-to-skin contact — non-sexual and sexual sexual activity contact with towels underclothing or bedding of an infected person.

Scratching the rash can cause skin infections like impetigo. Scabies can make conditions like eczema or psoriasis worse. Page last reviewed: 17 November Next review due: 17 November Check if it's scabies The symptoms of scabies are: intense itching, especially at night a raised rash or spots The spots may look red. Tiny mites lay eggs in the skin, leaving lines with a dot at one end. Find a pharmacy.

Do wash all bedding and clothing in the house at 50C or higher on the first day of treatment put clothing that cannot be washed in a sealed bag for 3 days until the mites die stop babies and children sucking treatment from their hands by putting socks or mittens on them. Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:. Scabies and hygiene Anyone can get scabies.