U2’s song I’ve got you under my skin could be the theme song for someone with scabies. Scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei) are human mites that burrow under the skin. Sites of common infection are between fingers, wrists, elbows, and naval area

Symptoms:

The most common symptom is intense itching that worsens at night. Red bumps appear often filled with fluid or pus; scaly patches may also be present. The mite creates burrows that look like raised lines or scratches.

Contagious?

Scabies are very contagious but only through direct contact. You have to be in close contact with the infected person or his/her personal items such as clothing or bedding.

Treatment:

A doctor’s diagnosis is the first step. A definite diagnosis is achieved by a scraping of the skin in the infected area. The actual treatment requires proper application of a prescribed pesticide. Eliminating scabies requires treatment of the infected person’s skin, thorough cleaning of clothing and bedding in hot water followed by drying on the hot cycle. It may be necessary to treat others that have direct contact with infected person’s skin, clothes and bedding.