What are the symptoms of scabies infestation?
Infestation with the scabies mite causes a hypersensitivity reaction in the skin which manifests as an intensely itchy rash. Patients infested with the scabies mite typically complain of a sudden onset of severe pruritus (itch). The statement that the itch is the worst itch a patient has ever felt is common. The itch seems to affect the trunk and extremities, with characteristic spreading to the face and neck. Although itching is worse at night, this specific complaint does not help differentiate scabies from other causes of an itchy rash, as most itchy dermatoses are worse at night. The incubation period (time from infestation until itching begins) is about 1 month, with a range of 2-6 weeks. In patients who have been exposed to the mite before (prior episodes of scabies), pruritus can begin within 48-72 hours after infestation. There are four main clinical presentations of scabies infestation: 1. Classic scabies 2. Nodular scabies 3. Scabies in infants and the elderly 4. Norwegian or
