How should scabies be treated?
Infested persons should be treated with a prescription product as soon as possible after diagnosis. Follow the instructions on the medication exactly. The infested person should avoid social situations, including work or school, until 24 hours after the first treatment. Itching may persist for 1-2 weeks after treatment; this should not be taken as a sign of treatment failure. Household contacts of an infested person should be treated since they may have been exposed. Overtreating should be avoided because the medication can be toxic. Five percent (5%) permethrin is the drug of choice for infants and toddlers. How should scabies be controlled? After applying the treatment and waiting the specified time (according to the manufacturer’s directions), the infested person should take a bath or shower. If the infested person is in a long-term care facility or hospital, personnel caring for the patient should wear gowns and gloves for the first 24 hours after treatment. Laundry personnel shoul
