Staying Healthy in Child Care - National Health and Medical ...

Scabies and other mites causing skin disease
Description
Scabies is an infectious disease of the skin caused by a mite. Scabies and other mites
causing skin disease are diagnosed by examining a skin scraping under a microscope
for mites or eggs. Scabies and other mites usually cause intense itching. Scabies is
usually found between the fingers, on the front of the wrists, and in the folds of the
elbows, wrists, armpits, buttocks and genitalia. Thread-like ‘tunnels’ (about 10 mm
long) may be present in the skin, but are often very difficult to see. When mites have
been transmitted from animals to humans, the mites are commonly found on contact
areas, such as the arms, chest and neck.
Scabies is usually transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. Very rarely, it is spread on
underclothing or bed clothes that have been freshly contaminated by an infested
person. The mites only live for a few days off the human or animal body. Although
scabies mites from animals can remain alive on humans, they do not reproduce.
Some forms of skin disease in animals caused by mites (such as mange) can also be
spread to humans. If an animal has mange, it is important to have a veterinarian
diagnose which mite is causing the mange. Some mange mites on animals can spread
to humans (for example, scabies and Cheyletiella), while others do not spread to
humans (for example, Demodex). Sarcoptes (which causes scabies) can infest a wide
variety of animals (including cats and dogs), while Cheyletiella usually infests rabbits
but can also infest cats and dogs.
Scabies is not an indication of poor cleanliness.
Incubation period
Itching begins 2–6 weeks after infestation in people not previously exposed to scabies
and within 1–4 days for people previously exposed. Itching due to Cheyletiella can
develop within hours of handling the animal.
Infectious period
Until the mites and eggs are destroyed by treatment.
Exclusion period
The child is to be excluded and may return to the centre the day following treatment.
Responsibilities of child care providers/staff
Report mite infestations to the director.
Any animals in the child care centre with skin disease caused by mites (mange)
should be treated. A vet should examine a skin scraping to confirm the presence of
mites and identify whether the mite can spread to humans.
Responsibilities of parents
Observe exclusion period.
See ‘controlling the spread of infection’ for further responsibilities.
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