Here are the symptoms of scabies that appear in children and should alert parents.
- Scabies is a very contagious dermatosis linked to a parasite called “sarcoptus”.
- Scabies does not manifest itself in the same way in children as in adults.
- Currently, three main therapies can be prescribed for scabies.
While the evidence center of the French Society of Dermatology has just finalized new recommendations for the treatment of scabies in children, here are the symptoms that should alert parents and doctors.
How can a child get scabies?
Scabies is a very contagious dermatosis linked to a parasite called “sarcoptus”. This animal is generally transmitted directly from one person to another, although it is also possible to become contaminated through the laundry of an infested individual.
According to the Health Monitoring Institute, each year in France there are 328 cases of scabies treated per 100,000 inhabitants, the prevalence of this skin disease being lower in developed countries.
What are the symptoms of scabies in children?
“In terms of symptoms, it is a pruritic dermatosis, with almost permanent itching that increases at night, sometimes resulting in irritability in children, or even a break in the weight curve,” explains Stéphanie Mallet, pediatric dermatologist at CHU la Timone (Marseille).
“We must also look for vesicles (with clear liquid) and pustules (with cloudy liquid) above all on the palms and soles of the feet of infants”, continues the expert.
She adds : “scabious nodules are mostly located in the armpit. Lesions are sometimes visible on the face, particularly in breast-fed infants, because the child’s face is directly stuck to the mother’s breasts, who can thus transmit the sarcoptus if it is infested.
Lesions in children can thus affect the entire body (scalp, face, shoulder, back, etc.). “As these lesions are very itchy, the child also often presents scratching lesions, generally superficial abrasions with impetiginization in the event of superinfection,” completes Stéphanie Mallet.
How to treat a child who has scabies?
The management of scabies is based on three axes, because it is necessary to treat the child as well as those around him (whether he is symptomatic or not) while disinfecting body linen and bed linen. “We have to repeat this twice times 10 days apart (the second time between 7 and 15 days after the first treatment). Products against scabies are in fact not active on the eggs of the parasite: they only destroy the sarcoptus. concludes Stéphanie Mallet.
Currently, three main therapies can be prescribed for scabies. There are topical treatments and oral medications.
