After exposure, symptoms will appear from two to six weeks in people who have not previously been exposed to scabies infestations. People who have had a previous infestation with scabies mites may show symptoms within one to four days after subsequent re-exposures. A person is able to spread scabies until mites and eggs are destroyed by treatment. Individuals with scabies should not attend school or daycare, nor enter their workplace until the day after treatment is initiated. The mites are present and may be spread to another individual before the infected person shows symptoms of illness.
Skin lotions are available through a physician's prescription for the treatment of scabies.
The lotion is applied to the whole body except the head and neck, and is left on for 8-12 hours after which it is thoroughly washed off. Clothing and bed linen should be laundered in hot water or dry-cleaned concurrently with treatment of the individual. Treatment may need to be repeated in 7-10 days. Sometimes itching may persist for one to two weeks after treatment, but this should not be regarded as treatment failure or reinfestation. Avoid physical contact with infested individuals and their belongings, especially clothing and bedding.