Dr. Greene’s Answer: Scabies are tiny mites that commonly infest
the skin. They are highly contagious. Children are the most
vulnerable, but anyone can get them. Whenever a child develops
intense itching, especially at night, the possibility of scabies
should be considered. The adult female mite is pinpoint in size,
barely visible to the unaided eye. She has four sets of legs on
a round body covered with brown spines and bristles. When she
lands on someone’s skin, she burrows underneath the outer layer
within 30 minutes — usually without being noticed. Every day she
extends her burrow by up to 1/4 inch horizontally under the
surface of the skin. Along the way, she lays little oval eggs,
and also leaves many tiny fecal droppings. She will survive for
about a month, and then die within the burrow. The eggs hatch
3-5 days after being laid. The little larvae squirm through the
burrow back towards the skin surface. They reach maturity in 2-3
weeks. They mate as soon as they find partners, and the pregnant
females