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Disclaimer:
The Region of Peel School Health Reference Guide is a supplementary resource to relevant Peel and Dufferin-Peel school board policies. Always refer to school board policy first if you have questions or concerns.

Childhood Diseases and Illnesses

Scabies

Description/Symptoms

• Caused by a mite that burrows under the skin.
• Itchy rash, especially between fingers, on elbows, hands, around the waist, armpits, chest, genitals. The rash looks like curvy white threads, tiny red bumps, scratches or tiny blisters.
• Itchiness is especially intense at night.
• Itching may persist for one to two weeks after treatment
  Spread by skin to skin contact while shaking hands, dancing, sharing clothes, bedding or towels and by sexual contact.
• The mites can live on clothes, other objects and off skin for 3 to 7 days. The mites will die after 3 to 7 days infected items are stored in a plastic bag.

Instructions for Schools

• Does not need to be reported to Peel Public Health.
  Exclude child until treatment has been completed.
• Encourage hand washing.

Notes

• Refer to physician for diagnosis and treatment.
• Scabies is not caused by lack of proper cleanliness and it can affect anyone.
• Wash any items that have come into direct contact with the person’s skin (for example clothing, bedding and towels) in hot water (50ºC).
• Place in the dryer on the hottest cycle for 20 minutes.
• Dry clean any item that can’t be washed or pack the item loosely in a sealed plastic bag for 1 week.
• Put articles in a non-food freezer for 24 hours to kill the mites.
• Vacuum rugs, pillows, carpets and furniture.
• See Preventing Infections section in School Health Reference Guide for environmental cleaning