Scabies

Question 1

Symptoms?

Answer 1

Itching usually at night and keeps the patient up all night

Rash

Raised spots

Sores

Thick crusts on skin

Small nodules or bumps on the skin

Bumpy skin

Visible white pus

Question 2

Questions to ask?

Answer 2

Whether they are experiencing skin itching

What time of the day does the itching occur

Where on the body they are experiencing the symptoms of scabies

Who they live with and who they may have been in contact with

Whether they have a rash, blisters or burrows

Description of the symptoms of scabies

Have they had scabies before

Question 3

Red flags?

Answer 3

Nonstop scratching can cause an infection usually sepsis.

Crusted scabies, thousands of mite scabies will be on the skin. - Norwegian scabies.

Redness, swelling or warmth to the skin can be sign of bacterial infection as well as scabies.

Question 4

Treatment?

Answer 4

Crotamiton 10% cream:

• Eurax 10% cream (Thornton & Ross Ltd)
• Boots Derma Care Itch Relief cream (The Boots Company Plc)

The cream should be rubbed into the entire body surface (excluding the face and scalp), once daily (preferably in the evening), for 3-5 days. Bathe in warm water and dry the skin well.

Chlorphenamine:

• Boots Allergy Relief Antihistamine 4mg tablets.
• Piriton 2mg/5ml syrup.
• Chlorphenamine 4mg tablets

6 - 11 years — 2 mg every 4 to 6 hours; maximum 12 mg per day.

12 - 17 years — 4 mg every 4 to 6 hours; maximum 24 mg per day.