Human scabies mites cannot survive off a host for more than about 24 hours. Proper treatment for scabies starts with positive diagnosis of the problem by a physician. In the case of both scabies and straw itch mites, the rash or bites associated with these mites is the primary diagnostic characteristic. The next step in scabies control is the application of an insecticide-containing prescription lotion to the body. Because there is time lag between the initial mite infestation and the appearance of symptoms, family members or people coming in close contact with infested persons may require treatment.
Sanitation is extremely critical to successful control.
An infested person's undergarments and bed linen should be washed regularly in hot, soapy water. Eutombicula alfreddugesi are very small, reddish mites that feed,only in the larval stage, on humans and other animals, particularly rodents. The red color of the larvae is not blood but a natural red pigment. On animals, chigger larvae remain attached to the skin for several days but on humans, they are usually dislodged within several hours of attachment. Unlike scabies mites, chiggers do not burrow into the skin.