Scabies: Itch That Spreads After Close Contact
Scabies isn’t about being “dirty.” It’s a common skin infestation that spreads through close skin-to-skin contact.
In households, childcare, and sleepovers, it can pass around fast.
Common clues:
- Very intense itching, often worse at night
- Small red bumps that can look like bites
- Sometimes tiny “tracks” (burrows), but they’re not always obvious
- Often affects wrists, between fingers, elbows, waistline, buttocks
Why this matters: If it’s scabies, symptom relief usually requires prescription treatment for the person and often close contacts—plus washing bedding/clothes.
What to do today (practical):
- Don’t assume. This needs confirmation by a clinician when possible.
- Avoid close skin-to-skin contact until you know what it is.
- Let the child’s parent know what you’re seeing so they can arrange evaluation.
Now, there’s a third possibility that’s boring but extremely common: a reaction to something you both touched—detergent, fabric, pet dander, or a new soap.
Read more on the next page ⬇️⬇️⬇️
