Scabies: an overview of the condition

Scabies outbreaks can occur in care homes and can be difficult to diagnose in older people because they do not always display all the clinical symptoms. Additionally, skin problems such as itching and rashes are common in older people and so scabies could easily go unnoticed for a while. The condition can spread quickly if untreated and if treatment is not carried out to the highest standard, outbreaks can persist for months. This article explains what scabies is, why it causes itching and rashes and how it can be treated.