Scabies Patient Education

Prevention of Disease Transmission

• Patient and close physical contacts should be educated about scabies transmission and the necessary steps to prevent spread
• It is important to treat the infested individuals and their close physical contacts at the same time to avoid re-infestation
• Infected individuals should avoid skin-to-skin contact with non-infected persons
  • Advise patients to avoid close contact with partner until completion of treatment

• To help avoid transmission by fomites hygienic measure should be undertaken
  • Infected individual should use clean/fresh clothing or bedding after treatment
  • Wash potentially contaminated clothes, towels and bedding at high temperature (>50°C) or store them in plastic bags for at least 72 hours
  • There is no need to clean coats, furniture, rugs, floors or walls in any special manner

Disease Treatment

• Educate the patient and the patient’s close physical contacts about the disease treatment
• Patient should be made aware that itching may persist for up to 2-4 weeks after the end of appropriate treatment
• The patient should be thoroughly educated about the application of the treatment, and supplementation with written instructions may be helpful
  • Verbal and written instructions should include: The amount of drug to be applied, how the treatment should be applied and where to apply the treatment 

• Infants and young children: The entire body surface from the neck down should be covered and if necessary, include the scalp and face (avoid the areas around the eyes and mouth)
• Older children and adults: Apply from the neck down, with particular attention to intensely involved areas eg folds, groin, navel, tips of the fingers and under the nails especially in crusted scabies
• Skin should be kept cool and dry and patient must change into clean clothing after application
• If the patient applies the topical treatment him/herself, the hands should not be washed after application
  • If treatment is applied by a non-infected person, the person should wear disposable gloves

• The nails should be cut short