Crabs and Scabies - Sexual Health Peer Resource Center

What it is: Scabies are tiny parasitic mites that burrow under the superficial layers of the skin, depositing eggs and feces, which cause intense irritation. Scabies is highly contagious and is spread through sexual contact, but it can also be transmitted by contact with skin, infested sheets, towels, or even furniture. Scabies is not usually known to cause anything more than discomfort and inconvenience.

Signs and Symptoms:

Intense itching which often becomes worse at night
Small red bumps or lines where the mites have burrowed. Common locations include webs between fingers, wrists, elbows, lower abdomen, and genitals.

Testing and Diagnosis: Microscopic examination of scrapings from suspicious lesions is performed to identify the presence of mites.

Treatment: People with scabies are considered infectious as long as they have not been treated. Infested articles of clothing and bedding are considered infectious until washed. The drug most often used to treat scabies is Kwell (unless patient is pregnant), available only with a prescription. Eurax or 6% Sulfer can be purchased at a drugstore without a prescription and may be used during pregnancy. The lotions are applied over the entire body and should cure scabies in one treatment, though itching may continue for weeks. Linens and clothing should be cleaned in hot water. Family members and close contacts are often treated concurrently to avoid reinfestation. Secondary bacterial infections are possible from excessive scratching.

Crabs

What it is: Crabs are members of the head lice family. They attach to capillaries in the skin and suck blood for nutrients, usually in the pubic area though armpit, eyelash, beard, and moustache infection is possible. The body responds with an immune response that causes itching.

Transmission: While crabs can be transmitted through sleeping in infested bedding, wearing infested clothing, and rarely an infested toilet seat, the primary means of transmission is sexual.

Signs and Symptoms:

Itching in pubic area
Small crab-like parasites around genitals, may be whitish-grey or rust colored
Crab nits (eggs) are small and often attached to base of pubic hairs
Little red spots in underwear

Treatment: Over-the-counter lotion treatments are available (RID is most common), consult pharmacist for more info. More effective prescription medications are also available. One treatment is usually sufficient. Wash clothes, linen, sleeping bags, etc. then dry on a hot cycle in the dryer. Non-use of these items for two weeks will also ensure decontamination. Secondary bacterial infections are possible from excessive scratching. Some prescription medications should not be used during pregnancy.


	SHPRC	About SHPRC Sexual Beings Working Yesterday STDs Making Babies Not Babies
	General STDs Oral Sex Human Papilloma Virus (Warts) Herpes Chlamydia Crabs and Scabies Gonorrhea Hepatitis Syphilis Human Immunodeficiency Virus Other STDs	Scabies What it is: Scabies are tiny parasitic mites that burrow under the superficial layers of the skin, depositing eggs and feces, which cause intense irritation. Scabies is highly contagious and is spread through sexual contact, but it can also be transmitted by contact with skin, infested sheets, towels, or even furniture. Scabies is not usually known to cause anything more than discomfort and inconvenience. Signs and Symptoms: Intense itching which often becomes worse at night Small red bumps or lines where the mites have burrowed. Common locations include webs between fingers, wrists, elbows, lower abdomen, and genitals. Testing and Diagnosis: Microscopic examination of scrapings from suspicious lesions is performed to identify the presence of mites. Treatment: People with scabies are considered infectious as long as they have not been treated. Infested articles of clothing and bedding are considered infectious until washed. The drug most often used to treat scabies is Kwell (unless patient is pregnant), available only with a prescription. Eurax or 6% Sulfer can be purchased at a drugstore without a prescription and may be used during pregnancy. The lotions are applied over the entire body and should cure scabies in one treatment, though itching may continue for weeks. Linens and clothing should be cleaned in hot water. Family members and close contacts are often treated concurrently to avoid reinfestation. Secondary bacterial infections are possible from excessive scratching. Crabs What it is: Crabs are members of the head lice family. They attach to capillaries in the skin and suck blood for nutrients, usually in the pubic area though armpit, eyelash, beard, and moustache infection is possible. The body responds with an immune response that causes itching. Transmission: While crabs can be transmitted through sleeping in infested bedding, wearing infested clothing, and rarely an infested toilet seat, the primary means of transmission is sexual. Signs and Symptoms: Itching in pubic area Small crab-like parasites around genitals, may be whitish-grey or rust colored Crab nits (eggs) are small and often attached to base of pubic hairs Little red spots in underwear Treatment: Over-the-counter lotion treatments are available (RID is most common), consult pharmacist for more info. More effective prescription medications are also available. One treatment is usually sufficient. Wash clothes, linen, sleeping bags, etc. then dry on a hot cycle in the dryer. Non-use of these items for two weeks will also ensure decontamination. Secondary bacterial infections are possible from excessive scratching. Some prescription medications should not be used during pregnancy.