From the Guidelines
Scabies is characterized by intense itching, especially at night, and a pimple-like rash on the skin, with the predominant symptom being pruritus, as noted in the most recent guideline 1. The symptoms of scabies include:
- Intense itching, especially at night
- A pimple-like rash on the skin
- Tiny burrows on the skin that appear as small, raised, grayish-white or flesh-colored lines, often found between fingers, on wrists, elbows, armpits, waist, buttocks, genitals, and nipples
- Small red bumps that may become crusty or scaly
- Sores that become infected due to scratching In severe cases, a crusty, Norwegian scabies can occur, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The itching results from an allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs, and waste. Symptoms usually appear 2-6 weeks after initial infestation for first-time cases, but can develop within 1-4 days in people previously infected, as sensitization to Sarcoptes scabiei occurs before pruritus begins 1. The most important symptom to recognize is pruritus, which is the predominant symptom of scabies, and it is essential to note that scabies in adults frequently is sexually acquired, although scabies in children usually is not 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Scabies infestation is often accompanied by pruritus, edema, and erythema. Information for Patients Patients with scabies should be advised that itching, mild burning and/or stinging may occur after application of Permethrin Cream, 5%
The symptoms of scabies include:
- Pruritus (itching)
- Edema (swelling)
- Erythema (redness)
- Mild burning
- Stinging 2
From the Research
Symptoms of Scabies
The symptoms of scabies are not explicitly mentioned in the provided studies. However, the studies discuss the treatment and management of scabies, which implies that the disease is characterized by intense itching and skin infestation by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei.
Treatment and Management
- The studies compare the efficacy of different treatments for scabies, including permethrin, ivermectin, and gamma benzene hexachloride 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- The symptoms of scabies can be managed with topical or oral medications, and the choice of treatment depends on the severity of the infestation and the patient's overall health.
- Combination therapy with permethrin and ivermectin may be a better choice for scabies due to its better efficacy and safety profile 7.
Efficacy of Treatments
- Permethrin 5% cream is effective in treating scabies, with a cure rate of 92.5% after two applications with a one-week interval 3.
- Ivermectin is also effective, with a cure rate of 85.9% after a single dose, which increases to 100% after crossing over to the permethrin group at a 4-week interval 3.
- The efficacy of permethrin and ivermectin may be similar, with little or no difference in complete clearance rates after four weeks' follow-up 6.