Scabies in Babies: Symptoms, How It Spreads And Its Treatment

Has your child been scratching at her skin, especially at night? Does she have a rough, pimply rash? She could have scabies. Scabies in infants is a common itchy rash that can spread fast.

It is caused by tiny mites measuring half a millimetre in length called Sarcoptes scabiei; these mites burrow and lay eggs inside the skin. When this happens, it itches and causes redness and bumps on the skin. This article will explain how scabies affects babies, how you can tell if your baby has it, and what you can do to treat it.

What Are Scabies

Scabies is a highly contagious skin condition that can affect people of all ages. At its worst, it causes intense itching, painful blisters and sores, and even secondary infections. It is extremely contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected person or object, such as bed linens or clothing.

Scabies can be spread from one person to another by direct contact, but it is not spread by coughing, sneezing, or casual contact. It is more likely to spread when people have prolonged close contact, such as bed sharing or intimate sexual contact.

In adults and adolescents, scabies causes intense itching that may last for weeks before treatment begins to relieve the itching. In babies under 2 years old, the signs of scabies may be subtle and hard to recognise at first glance.

What Causes Scabies

Scabies is an itchy skin condition that’s caused by a tiny mite. They burrow into your skin, lay their eggs, and leave microscopic burrows behind. The burrows and eggs cause an allergic reaction that results in intense itchiness.

The most common places scabies is found are on the wrists, hands, inner elbows, and feet. If you have scabies, you’ll see small red pimple-like bumps and/or white lines on your skin—they’re caused by the mites burrowing into your skin to lay eggs.

You can get scabies from close contact with someone who has it or by sharing clothing or bedding with someone who has it.

Symptoms Of Scabies In Babies

The most common symptom of scabies in babies is intense itching. The baby may have red spots on their face, arms, hands and legs. The baby’s scalp may also be affected by scabies. Infusing a child with scabies can take four to six weeks for the skin to react. Other symptoms to look out for are:

• Itching

The first signs of scabies in babies are usually itching, which can be severe and persistent. Babies may scratch themselves until they bleed. They may also develop blisters on their hands and feet, leading to infection if left untreated.

• Scabs

With scabies, the mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs, which hatch into larvae. The larvae then burrow deeper into the skin, causing inflammation and creating small blisters that look like pimples. These scabs can be anywhere on the body but are most often seen on the fingers, hands, wrists, elbows or other parts of the body that bend or flex.

• Sores

See your doctor immediately if you notice sores on your baby’s hands and feet. They’ll check for scabies by looking at the rash and asking about how long it’s been there when it started, and any other symptoms your baby may have had in addition to the rash (like itching). 

• Rash

The rash associated with scabies in babies may appear as tiny bumps or pimples on the skin, often on the hands, legs and arms. These rashes may also appear as red bumps on the baby’s face, scalp or chest. Furthermore, these rashes might be accompanied by small blisters or small areas of broken skin.

If you notice a rash on your baby that looks like this, it could be scabies! If you think your baby has scabies, talk to your doctor right away.

• Bumps

The bumps are usually on the hands, feet, head, and neck. In babies, the bumps are usually on their cheeks.

The bumps can be red or pink. Scabies can be passed from person to person by close contact with someone who has scabies. The mites can also get into your home through shared clothing or bedding and then spread to other people in your home.

• Tiny Blisters

It’s not uncommon for babies to get tiny blisters as a symptom of scabies, but it’s important to be able to tell the difference between a case of scabies and just a rash that might be caused by something else.

If your baby has scabies, they will likely have tiny blisters all over their body, including in the creases of their elbows, behind their knees, and between their fingers.

In the early stages, scabies in infants can be easily mistaken for something else because it looks similar to other types of rashes. Telltale signs include relentless itching and the appearance of track-like burrows in the skin. These tracks are usually greyish-white or skin-coloured. And they show where the female mites have burrowed, laying up to 10 – 25 eggs just under the skin.

Favourite spots for scabies in infants include the head, neck, face, palms, and soles of the feet.

How to Diagnose Scabies in Babies

Diagnosing scabies in babies is often difficult, as the symptoms are often similar to other common skin conditions. If you suspect your baby may have scabies, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

A doctor will examine your baby’s skin and take swabs from the affected areas, which will then be sent to a laboratory for testing. The doctor may also take a blood sample from your baby to test for signs of scabies-causing bacteria or viruses. If a diagnosis of scabies is confirmed, treatment can begin immediately.

How Do Scabies in Infants Spread?

A scabies outbreak can happen easily in daycare centres and nurseries where mites can crawl from one person to another, be it from a caretaker or from infant to infant. Shared bedding, playmats or towels might also contribute to an outbreak and crowded conditions. Scabies also spreads easily among family members too.

Can pets cause scabies in infants? No, they can’t because the mites affecting canine and feline scabies are not caused by the same type of mite that infects humans. Mites from pets usually die off without causing any major harm.

If your baby has contracted scabies from daycare, it is important to notify the staff to contain it. Other babies and caregivers that have been in contact with your little one will probably need to be treated, even if they haven’t shown any symptoms yet.

How to Treat Scabies

If you have scabies, you’ll usually see your doctor before getting treatment. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and perform a physical examination of your body to look for signs of scabies. They may also ask you to provide some information about recent travel or contact with someone who has scabies (such as sharing a bed).

Scabies is not something that will go away on its own. It needs to be treated with prescription medication to kill the mites. 

According to NUH, the usual topical cream prescribed is Permethrin cream and Malathion liquid. Everyone has to be treated, including you and the rest of your family, regardless of whether you are itchy. 

Two treatments, one week apart, are necessary to kill mites that have hatched from eggs after the first application. If you are concerned about your baby being given topical permethrin (5% cream), do not worry. It is safe for infants above two months of age. 

The intense itch can make your baby cranky and irritable. An oral antihistamine or steroid cream might be given for relief. But to avoid sores, skin tearing and introducing infection, make them wear mittens and keep their fingernails short.

If the itching continues for more than four weeks or a new rash appears, consult a paediatrician. It may be necessary to reapply for scabies medication.

How to Prevent Scabies In Babies

You’re a parent, and you want to keep your baby safe. You know scabies is a serious problem, and you want to do everything you can to stop it from happening to your little one.

But how? How do you prevent scabies in babies?

It’s easier than you think! Here are some tips on how to prevent scabies in babies:

1) Keep Your Baby Clean: It sounds obvious, but keeping your baby clean is the first step in preventing scabies. Wash any clothes they wear frequently, and make sure that their skin is well-cleaned at all times. This will help prevent the lice from establishing themselves on their skin.

2) Use Lice Shampoos: If your baby has lice, there’s a good chance they’ve already been exposed to scabies. To avoid this happening again, consider using lice shampoos like Rid or Nix 2-in-1 shampoo to treat both conditions at once!

3) Avoid Sharing Clothing: If someone in your family has scabies or lice, don’t let them wear any clothing belonging to your baby until the infestation has been eliminated from their bodies. This helps prevent the spreading of either condition.

Home Remedies To Treat Scabies In Babies

Some home remedies for babies with scabies will help to relieve them from itching and discomfort associated with this condition:

• Neem Leaves

Neem leaves are one of the best home remedies for babies’ scabies. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of neem make it a great choice for treating scabies.

You can apply neem oil directly on your baby’s skin, or you can make a paste of neem leaves and apply that to your baby’s skin. Neem leaves also have soothing and cooling effects on the skin, which help reduce itching and redness caused by scabies.

• Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a natural remedy for scabies. It can be used on adults and children.

Also, coconut oil has many benefits for skin health. It is rich in vitamins and minerals that help to restore the skin’s natural moisture balance and prevent dryness. Coconut oil also contains fatty acids that help to soften dry, cracked skin and reduce itching.

Coconut oil is an effective moisturiser for babies who have scabies because it helps to prevent dryness of their skin caused by the mites that cause scabies.

• Turmeric

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin—it’s been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and has been used for centuries to treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder with a little bit of water until it becomes a paste, then apply it directly onto your baby’s skin. Leave it on for 5 minutes before rinsing off with cool water (and don’t use soap). You can repeat this process three times a day; however, don’t apply more than once daily because too much turmeric could irritate your baby’s skin!

• Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil extracted from the leaves of tea tree. It has antifungal and antibacterial properties, which makes it useful in treating skin conditions such as scabies. The oil contains cineole and terpineol, which have anti-parasitic properties and effectively kill microorganisms that cause scabies.

• Calamine Lotion

Calamine lotion is a great home remedy for scabies in babies. It is an anti-itch and anti-inflammatory product that can help relieve the redness and swelling caused by scabies. Calamine lotion can be applied directly to the rash, or a cotton ball can be applied to your baby’s skin. Ensure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying the calamine lotion, as it can stain clothing and other surfaces.

• Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel is a natural remedy for scabies and can be used to treat babies. It has anti-itch properties that help relieve the symptoms of scabies in babies. Aloe vera gel can be found at most health food stores and is also available online.

To use aloe vera gel on your baby, apply it to all skin areas affected by scabies. If your baby is old enough, you can use a cotton ball or pad to apply the gel or your fingers. Make sure you don’t get any gel in your baby’s eyes or mouth. If possible, cleanse their skin after applying the aloe vera gel with warm water and soap.

The amount of time it takes for aloe vera gel to work depends on how severe your baby’s case of scabies is; however, most people see results within one week of using it as directed. If you notice that there are still symptoms after a week of using this remedy, you should consult your physician about other methods for treating your child’s scabies infection.

Reminder: do not give your baby any medication or even topical cream for scabies without their paediatrician’s advice. If you notice the symptoms of scabies in your baby or child, consult a doctor without delay to prevent the spread of infection.

Updates from Pheona Ilagan

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