Scabies Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms of scabies include:

• Intense itching, usually worse at night
• Small red bumps, pimples, or lines on the skin

In more severe cases, the infested area may:

• Appear crusty
• Become infected and discharge pus

Scabies rarely affects the face or head. While any other body area, or even the whole body, may be involved, areas most often affected include:

• Hands, especially between the fingers
• Wrists and elbows
• Feet
• Genitals and pubic area (especially in men)
• Buttocks
• Around the nipples (especially in women)
• Waistline
• Bellybutton and lower abdomen
• Areas where clothing is tight
• Under rings, watches, or jewelry

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. While scabies can often be diagnosed based on these steps, the doctor may scrape some skin off. The sample is examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.