Search scabies Scabies is an itchy infestation of the skin with an incredibly tiny little bug, the scabies mite. It can't be seen without a microscope. It burrows in the top dead layer of the skin, eating the dead skin cell debris. Its fecal material provokes an allergic reaction that causes intense itching. In bygone days, when there was no effective treatment, scabies was called seven year itch - for obvious reasons.
Diagnosis is by typical appearance and history of exposure.
Ordinarily it seemed harmless enough, but if applied in excess amounts repeatedly to small children, enough of the chemical got in the bloodstream to cause brain damage, leading to the usual large lawsuits. Thus it has been used less and less by pediatricians any more, although I am told it still can be used very safely if used prudently. Follow the directions exactly, and realise that the itching isn't going to go right away, even though the bugs are dead. Cover the whole body from the neck down - the bumps are where the critter was , not where he is now. The little itchy sores will get gradually better and should be gone in 10-14 days, with no new sores appearing after treatment.