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Does Recurring Itchy Bites Indicate Scabies?
We have three people in our house, started getting little bites about 2 weeks ago at the same time we remolded a bedroom, we do not have any fleas and I have only seen 1 tiny little brownish mite, we are not extremely itchy but the bites are still appearing, I have cleaned and washed everything, lysol on the beds with new mattress covers, we do not wake up with these bites but they are sporatic sometimes in 4 or 5 clusters. We all started taking Zyrtec about a week ago and the bites go away in a few days, then we get a few more. I m really concerned that this could be scabies! Too much on the internet will scare you to death? Any ideas?
posted on
Mon, 20 Oct 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 1 Dec 2014
Answered on
Mon, 1 Dec 2014
Last reviewed on
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
Itchy lesions resembling bug bites persisting for 2 weeks and history of similar symptoms in close contacts does bring in a possibility of scabies.
Scabies is caused by a mite called Sarcoptes Scabiei, which characteristically infects close contacts and produces itchy lesions on body. Itching is specially troublesome at night.
If I was the treating doctor I would have treated all 3 of you empirically with a single whole body application of 5% permethrin cream/lotion (a scabicidal), kept overnight for 8 hours and followed by a scrub bath on the following day.
Scabicidal is a prescription product and I would suggest that you visit a dermatologist in your region for a confirmatory diagnosis as well as appropriate prescription.
An OTC oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine can be continued for symptomatic relief from itching.
Regards
Itchy lesions resembling bug bites persisting for 2 weeks and history of similar symptoms in close contacts does bring in a possibility of scabies.
Scabies is caused by a mite called Sarcoptes Scabiei, which characteristically infects close contacts and produces itchy lesions on body. Itching is specially troublesome at night.
If I was the treating doctor I would have treated all 3 of you empirically with a single whole body application of 5% permethrin cream/lotion (a scabicidal), kept overnight for 8 hours and followed by a scrub bath on the following day.
Scabicidal is a prescription product and I would suggest that you visit a dermatologist in your region for a confirmatory diagnosis as well as appropriate prescription.
An OTC oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine can be continued for symptomatic relief from itching.
Regards
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