Scabies in children and how to treat scabies for babies

Scabies in children is a rash caused by scabies. Scabies is very contagious and requires careful treatment.

When the tick enters the first epidermis layer of the skin and lays eggs in that area, small bumps or a gradual itchy sensation appears. This condition is called scabies. In some cases, childhood scabies can also be seen as wavy lines underneath the skin. You will easily see these lines between your fingers and toes as well as the inside of the wrist.

The following article, aFamilyToday Health will introduce essential information about scabies in young children as well as how to treat and pay attention when your baby is sick.

Causes of scabies in young children

The main cause of scabies in young children is the presence of scabies mites - tiny organisms that enter the top layer of the skin and live there for up to a month. Scabies is easily spread through patient-healthy skin contact.

Scabies are so diverse that they can live in bed sheets, towels, clothing or even in baby diapers.

Please refer to the article: Common skin diseases in children

How is scabies spread?

Scabies is an infectious disease. When in contact with a carrier through a form of touching such as hugging, shaking hands ... your baby is easily infected. In addition, sharing toys in kindergartens, sharing towels or sleeping on pillows also indirectly creates opportunities for scabies to parasitize on the child's skin.

Signs of scabies

Scabies are very small in size, but there are still a few signs to help parents detect scabies.

Symptoms of scabies in babies

Scabies in babies can begin to show up about 3 - 4 weeks after infection and cause conditions such as:

Cry a lot due to discomfort

A large red rash appears on the heels, between fingers and toes, inside the wrist or elbow

Symptoms of scabies in toddlers

The symptoms of scabies in toddlers are quite similar to those of infants. However, itchy spots will also appear on the face and sides of the heels. In addition, this young person is old enough to be able to scratch it, which in turn leads to infection to many parts of the body.

Symptoms of scabies in older children

The common signs of scabies in babies this age include:

Coarse skin

Small pustules, white pus

The rash is red or purple

Brown or silver wavy lines, running along the inside of the wrist.

How to treat scabies for children

The treatment of scabies for children can be done in 2 ways:

How to treat scabies with medicine

The main treatment for scabies is usually topical. Your baby will be prescribed ointment or cream to apply to the sores. For severe cases, young children may resort to oral scabies medication.

How to treat scabies at home

In addition to medication, to enhance the effectiveness and speed up the healing process, you can consult and follow some of the recommended remedies for scabies at home:

♣ How to treat scabies with salt water

Salt water is one of the most simple and effective treatments for scabies. Salt water can even kill parasitic eggs by penetrating through their shells and replacing water.

The first way to treat scabies is to spray salt water on the affected skin

Next, you should soak your baby in salt water for 10-20 minutes a day for about 1 week.

♣ How to treat scabies with tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is one of the most effective home remedies for scabies because it will help your baby reduce the itching sensation and heal wounds on the skin. However, for the case of eggs hidden deep under the skin, tea tree oil does not work too effectively. You can also put a few drops of essential oil in a spray bottle with water and spray it onto your sheets.

♣ How to treat scabies with clove oil

Clove oil has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, contributing to the healing ability of scabies in young children. Experts have suggested that clove oil is effective in killing scabies.

♣ How to treat scabies with neem oil

Another essential oil known for its ability to treat scabies is neem oil. In oil there are ingredients with the ability to prevent the growth and reproduction of skin scabies and at the same time help your baby relieved the unpleasant itchy sensation.

♣ How to treat scabies with white vinegar

Acidic white vinegar helps to change the pH of the skin, thereby destroying scabies. Usage is as follows:

Mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water

Use a cotton ball to apply the solution to the affected skin and let it sit for a few minutes

Clean with warm water

Repeat three times daily for 10 to 15 days to fight skin infections

Prevention of scabies in children

Some ways to help prevent scabies for your baby and family include:

Strengthens skin resistance

Do not share towels

Sweep and mop floors regularly

Wash clothes in hot water

Discard your baby's cloth diapers if there is a suspicion of a carrier

Minimize direct contact with someone with scabies and their objects.

Note when your baby has scabies

Some important things to keep in mind for childhood scabies:

Do not self-diagnose the disease

Do not stop treating the baby on your own

Keep the living space neat and clean

Do not take your baby to a public place like school to avoid infection

Young children cannot get scabies from animals such as dogs or cats.

Scabies in children, though not so dangerous, can make the baby extremely uncomfortable and difficult to control the condition. If you suspect your child has a disease, temporarily isolate your child from family members and take him to the doctor.