itchy bumps on wife and I

[rickarooney]

We are a couple married for over a year now and have recently developed small raised redish bumps on various areas on our bodies(inner thigh,back of hands,armpits,kneecaps,genital area). these bumps itch, they last for a week plus and then turn into white raised areas that do  not itch as much. we have had this for over a month now. we sleep in the same bed. itches mostly at night. my wife is a nurse at a hospital. we do not know what this is and am not sure if it is an std or something from the hospital or scabies. please help.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This sounds a lot like scabies.  Your questions suggest you already know that scabies is an occupational hazard of health care providers, especially those who provide the most intimate personal care to bed-bound patients--i.e., nurses and nursing assistants.  Scabies is also transmitted between sex partners and others who share beds.  But there is not necessarily an implication that either of you has had other partners.

Go together to a health care provider, preferably a dermatologist.

Good luck--  HHH, MD