What are scabies and what causes them?

Scabies is an itchy, highly contagious skin disease caused by an infestation by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei.

Direct skin-to-skin contact is the mode of transmission.

There are several types of skin conditions that can cause itching and rashes, and scabies is one of them.

Scabies is a dermatologic condition caused by the sarcoptes scabiei mite, an eight-legged microscopic bug.

Scabies spreads very easily from person to person. It can affect people of all ages and from all incomes, social levels and living situations.

If you have scabies, you and anyone you have close contact with must all be treated at the same time.

TO REPEAT...IF ONE PERSON IN A HOUSEHOLD HAS SCABIES, EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE NEEDS TO BE TREATING FOR SCABIES.​