Joe is a 45 year old aboriginal man who moved back in with family 6 weeks ago, he presents with intensely itchy lesions between his fingers and on his wrists and hands. The itch is preventing him from sleeping at night and the lesions are becoming larger, redder and hotter over time.
Risk Factors leading to spread of scabies:
- Poverty and overcrowding
- Institutional care, such as rest homes, hospitals, prisons
- Refugee camps
- Individuals with immune deficiency or that are immune suppressed
- Low rates of identification and proper treatment of the disease
Management of Scabies:
- Permethrin Cream – leave on overnight then wash off
- Benyl Benzoate on for 24hrs, repeat in a week
- Oral Ivermectin
- Treat whole family
- Wash clothes and sheets in hot water and hang in sun
- Non-washable items should be sealed in a plastic bag and stored for one week.
- Rooms should be thoroughly cleaned with normal household products. Fumigation or specialised cleaning is not required.
- Carpeted floors and upholstered furniture should be vacuumed.
