How Do You Get Scabies

Now that we have determined what Scabies are let's talk about how we actually get them in the first place. Well it's not difficult to get scabies, they are highly contagious. If you were to come into contact with someone who has scabies 'a prolonged handshake' would be enough to pass the scabies on. In fact, any type of skin contact will do it.

You don't even have to come into contact with the person either, scabies can also be spread by sharing towels, bedding or clothes with a person who already has scabies. Away from the human body the scabies mites are able to live for up to 48 hours. Even a cuddly toy that a child sleeps with could be holding the scabies mites. This is why it is not just enough to treat humans to get rid of the mites but bedding etc. A person who has scabies is contagious and poses a threat of spreading the mites until they have been treated.

If a child attending school has scabies, then there is a good chance that it will spread quickly. Children tend to have close skin to skin contact whilst engaging in playing activities. It is also common in nursing homes as this is also a place with skin to skin contact.

No, you can't. Most people who get scabies tend to start looking at their pets to see if they are scratching, thinking that they will have got the mites from them, but this is not the case. Pets can carry scabies mites, but it is a different kind of mite, called mange. However, if your pet is suffering with mange then the mite can transfer onto your skin and is able to live there only for a couple of days. It can still cause you itching and skin irritation the same as if you were infested with scabies, but these mites will die after a couple of days and are not able to reproduce.

If you have a pet who has Mange then you do not have to treat yourself to get rid of the scabies but you can still use products to relieve the itching. Mange is equally as painful for your pet as scabies is for you so it is important to treat your pet quickly. Also, the quicker that your pet is treated the quicker they will stop passing the Mange onto you - I know they can only last a couple of days, but who wants a couple of days filled with itching ?