While anyone can get scabies, certain people are at greater risk, including those who live in crowded spaces or are caregivers in nursing homes.
This article explains how scabies is (and isn’t) spread, including the risk factors that place you at greater risk of infestation.
Cause of Scabies
The femaleSarcoptes scabieimite lives for around eight weeks and can continue to lay eggs the entire time. As the larvae mature and feed off human tissues, they can also start to mate and lay eggs, perpetuating and expanding the infestation.
A scabies infestation can sometimes affect large portions of the body or be limited to the wrists, elbows, armpits, belt-line, buttocks, or the webbing between fingers.
Scabies can also affect the head, face, neck, palms, and soles of infants and toddlers, but usually not adults or older children.
How Scabies Is Spread
Scabies can be transmitted directly from person to person or indirectly through contact with contaminated items (referred to asfomite transmission).
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Scabies is most often passed through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with someone with scabies. Because it can take weeks for symptoms to develop, a person with scabies may not even be aware that they are a carrier.
Contact through professional massage can also potentially transmit the parasite from one person to the next.
Fomite Transmission
A scabies infestation often affects the home as well as households. This includes furniture, bedding, towels, and clothing whereSarcoptes scabieimites can survive for two to three days without a human host.
Contact with these items can independently cause scabies. Even if a person istreated for scabies, they can still get reinfected unless these items are properly sanitized.
The fumigation of rooms is not necessary.
Norwegian (Crusted) Scabies
Norwegian scabiesis the term used to describe crusted scabies that affects people who areimmunocompromised(have a severely weakened immune system). When a person’s immune system is impaired, the body is less able to fight infections.
Norwegian scabies most commonly affects:
“Regular” scabies may involve anywhere from 12 to 20 mites on the body at any one time. Norwegian scabies may involve more than 1,000 mites.
How Scabies Is Diagnosed
How Scabies Isn’t SpreadScabies is not passed through casual contact, such as a quick handshake or hug. Transmission ofSarcoptes scabieigenerally requires prolonged exposure.Some people associate scabies with a lack of hygiene. The simple fact is that poor hygiene does not cause scabies, and cleanliness does notprevent scabies. This is because the mites live deep within the skin and cannot be washed off.Having scabies simply means that you have been in close contact with someone—or something—that has scabies.What About Pets?While pets can spread certain parasites to humans,Sarcoptes scabieiis not one of them. While there have been isolated reports of transmission from pet pigs to humans, the risk of this occurring is considered low to unlikely.
How Scabies Isn’t Spread
Scabies is not passed through casual contact, such as a quick handshake or hug. Transmission ofSarcoptes scabieigenerally requires prolonged exposure.
Some people associate scabies with a lack of hygiene. The simple fact is that poor hygiene does not cause scabies, and cleanliness does notprevent scabies. This is because the mites live deep within the skin and cannot be washed off.
Having scabies simply means that you have been in close contact with someone—or something—that has scabies.
What About Pets?While pets can spread certain parasites to humans,Sarcoptes scabieiis not one of them. While there have been isolated reports of transmission from pet pigs to humans, the risk of this occurring is considered low to unlikely.
What About Pets?
While pets can spread certain parasites to humans,Sarcoptes scabieiis not one of them. While there have been isolated reports of transmission from pet pigs to humans, the risk of this occurring is considered low to unlikely.
Who Gets Scabies?Certain people are at greater risk of scabies than others due to their living situation or their job.EnvironmentScabies is known to spread among people who live in crowded quarters. Outbreaks often occur in daycare settings, military quarters, prisons, and homeless shelters where vulnerable people are packed into a small space.Severe outbreaks are possible in nursing homes because residents are older and more likely to get Norwegian scabies.OccupationsCaregivers in shelters and nursing homes can get scabies even if personal hygiene is maintained.Sex workers are vulnerable to transmission as are people who engage in non-sexual touch, such as massage therapists.Wearing gloves and other protective coverings in these settings may decrease the chances of getting or passing scabies.
Who Gets Scabies?
Certain people are at greater risk of scabies than others due to their living situation or their job.
Environment
Scabies is known to spread among people who live in crowded quarters. Outbreaks often occur in daycare settings, military quarters, prisons, and homeless shelters where vulnerable people are packed into a small space.
Severe outbreaks are possible in nursing homes because residents are older and more likely to get Norwegian scabies.
Occupations
Caregivers in shelters and nursing homes can get scabies even if personal hygiene is maintained.Sex workers are vulnerable to transmission as are people who engage in non-sexual touch, such as massage therapists.
Wearing gloves and other protective coverings in these settings may decrease the chances of getting or passing scabies.
SummaryScabies is caused when the femaleSarcoptes scabieimite burrows into your skin and lays eggs. Scabies is most commonly passed through prolonged skin-to-skin contact but can also be spread through infested bedding, clothing, furniture, or towels.People who live in crowded quarters or are caregivers in places like nursing homes are at greater risk. People who are older or are immunocompromised are also more likely to get a severe form of scabies, known as Norwegian (crusted) scabies.
Summary
Scabies is caused when the femaleSarcoptes scabieimite burrows into your skin and lays eggs. Scabies is most commonly passed through prolonged skin-to-skin contact but can also be spread through infested bedding, clothing, furniture, or towels.
People who live in crowded quarters or are caregivers in places like nursing homes are at greater risk. People who are older or are immunocompromised are also more likely to get a severe form of scabies, known as Norwegian (crusted) scabies.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but it’s a good idea to clean your mattress. Strip off all bedding and vacuum both sides of the mattress thoroughly (using the crevice attachment to get between seams and folds). Steam cleaning is not necessary.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mccarthy JS, Kemp DJ, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies: more than just an irritation. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80(945):382-7. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2003.014563Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies frequently asked questions (FAQs).Currier RW, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies in animals and humans: history, evolutionary perspectives, and modern clinical management.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011;1230:E50-60. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06364.xVeraldi S, Cuka E, Francia C, Persico MC.Scabies acquired in Chinese massage centers.G Ital Dermatol Venereol.2014 Oct;149(5):627-8.Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Crusted scabies.Grahofer A, Bannoehr J, Nathues H, Roosje P.Sarcoptes infestation in two miniature pigs with zoonotic transmission - a case report.BMC Vet Res.2018 Mar 13;14(1):91. doi:10.1186/s12917-018-1420-5.Ross DA.The scabies problem on active service.J R Army Med Corps. 2014 Jun;160 Suppl 1:i38-9. doi:10.1136/jramc-2014-000294.Leistner R, Buchwald D, Beyer M, Philipp S.Scabies outbreak among healthcare workers in a German acute care hospital.J Infect Prev. 2017;18(4):189-92. doi:10.1177/1757177417690920Consumer Reports.How to clean a mattress (and why).
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mccarthy JS, Kemp DJ, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies: more than just an irritation. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80(945):382-7. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2003.014563Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies frequently asked questions (FAQs).Currier RW, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies in animals and humans: history, evolutionary perspectives, and modern clinical management.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011;1230:E50-60. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06364.xVeraldi S, Cuka E, Francia C, Persico MC.Scabies acquired in Chinese massage centers.G Ital Dermatol Venereol.2014 Oct;149(5):627-8.Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Crusted scabies.Grahofer A, Bannoehr J, Nathues H, Roosje P.Sarcoptes infestation in two miniature pigs with zoonotic transmission - a case report.BMC Vet Res.2018 Mar 13;14(1):91. doi:10.1186/s12917-018-1420-5.Ross DA.The scabies problem on active service.J R Army Med Corps. 2014 Jun;160 Suppl 1:i38-9. doi:10.1136/jramc-2014-000294.Leistner R, Buchwald D, Beyer M, Philipp S.Scabies outbreak among healthcare workers in a German acute care hospital.J Infect Prev. 2017;18(4):189-92. doi:10.1177/1757177417690920Consumer Reports.How to clean a mattress (and why).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mccarthy JS, Kemp DJ, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies: more than just an irritation. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80(945):382-7. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2003.014563Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies frequently asked questions (FAQs).Currier RW, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies in animals and humans: history, evolutionary perspectives, and modern clinical management.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011;1230:E50-60. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06364.xVeraldi S, Cuka E, Francia C, Persico MC.Scabies acquired in Chinese massage centers.G Ital Dermatol Venereol.2014 Oct;149(5):627-8.Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Crusted scabies.Grahofer A, Bannoehr J, Nathues H, Roosje P.Sarcoptes infestation in two miniature pigs with zoonotic transmission - a case report.BMC Vet Res.2018 Mar 13;14(1):91. doi:10.1186/s12917-018-1420-5.Ross DA.The scabies problem on active service.J R Army Med Corps. 2014 Jun;160 Suppl 1:i38-9. doi:10.1136/jramc-2014-000294.Leistner R, Buchwald D, Beyer M, Philipp S.Scabies outbreak among healthcare workers in a German acute care hospital.J Infect Prev. 2017;18(4):189-92. doi:10.1177/1757177417690920Consumer Reports.How to clean a mattress (and why).
Mccarthy JS, Kemp DJ, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies: more than just an irritation. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80(945):382-7. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2003.014563
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Currier RW, Walton SF, Currie BJ.Scabies in animals and humans: history, evolutionary perspectives, and modern clinical management.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011;1230:E50-60. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06364.x
Veraldi S, Cuka E, Francia C, Persico MC.Scabies acquired in Chinese massage centers.G Ital Dermatol Venereol.2014 Oct;149(5):627-8.
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Crusted scabies.
Grahofer A, Bannoehr J, Nathues H, Roosje P.Sarcoptes infestation in two miniature pigs with zoonotic transmission - a case report.BMC Vet Res.2018 Mar 13;14(1):91. doi:10.1186/s12917-018-1420-5.
Ross DA.The scabies problem on active service.J R Army Med Corps. 2014 Jun;160 Suppl 1:i38-9. doi:10.1136/jramc-2014-000294.
Leistner R, Buchwald D, Beyer M, Philipp S.Scabies outbreak among healthcare workers in a German acute care hospital.J Infect Prev. 2017;18(4):189-92. doi:10.1177/1757177417690920
Consumer Reports.How to clean a mattress (and why).
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