Scabies (Pediatric):
A parent's guide for infants and babies

Scabies is a common itchy rash seen in children and infants that is highly contagious. It is caused by a small bug known as a mite. (The scientific name of the mite is Sarcoptes scabiei.) The female mite typically enters the skin through skin folds, such as the space between the fingers and burrows or invades the skin, forming a red "tract." She then proceeds to lay eggs in the skin, which will later hatch into larvae. The first sign of a scabies infection is usually several small (1–2 mm) red, crusty bumps on the hands and feet. The skin of infants is often more exposed and more sensitive, and, therefore, these lesions can develop into large blistering lesions or pus-filled bumps. Scabies is extremely itchy because the human immune system forms an allergic reaction to the mite and the eggs that hatch.