This information is provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD).
Crusted scabies (also called Norwegian scabies) is an infestation characterized by thick crusts of skin that contain large numbers of scabies mites and eggs. It is a severe form of scabies that occurs most often in people who have a weakened immune system or a neurological disease, the elderly, and the disabled. The symptoms of the more common form of scabies, such as itching and a rash, may be absent. Crusted scabies is very contagious and can spread both by direct skin-to-skin contact and through contaminated items such as clothing, bedding, and furniture.[7512][7513] It is caused by super-infestation with Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis, a mite that can only reproduce on humans. People with crusted scabies should receive quick and aggressive medical treatment for their infestation to prevent future outbreaks of scabies.[7512] Ivermectin, a drug used to treat parasitic infections, is commonly used for treatment.[7513]
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