Major Itching! Can it be Scabies?

OK, so for about a week now I have developed what looks like a bunch of flea bites and they itch really bad and seem to get worse at night. It's in my bikini area, armpits, stomach and around breasts, and now seems to be spreading around the knees and wrists. Not every area is covered in those bumps, but they all consistently itch. The only thing that makes sense is Scabies. I am  a very clean wife & Mother so I don't know where I could get this from. Does it sound like Scabies? I at a stay at home mom and obviously need to handle my kids by touching (Feeding, clothing, bathing, etc..) How can I prevent infecting them if I have this incredibly contagious infection? Help please! Thanks!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

From the symptoms,it definitely sounds like scabies. It is an infestation of the skin with the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. It is characterized by intense itching, usually at night and by small insect-type bites lesions on the skin. Diagnosis of scabies is made by scraping the skin and viewing the material under a microscope to see the characteristic mite or eggs.

Treatment is specific and consists of topical medicines like permethrin,malathion,lindane and tea tree oil and oral medicine like ivermectin.It is highly contagious and although none of your family members are showing any symptoms now,yet they may require the treatment.So I would advise an evaluation by a dermatologist.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted if you have any additional doubts.