Scabies in Preschool.

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YES.

Keep him home.

If you've never had scabies... you are very blessed.

It may be too late.

My story is "typical bad". With scabies... there are only 2 types of stories. Caught a mild case very early and treated it, and caught a severe case and didn't realize for a week or two... and then had to spend the next several weeks ripping out every carpet, throwing away all fabric furnishings (couches, chairs, beds, etc.), freeze in ziplocks all things (that cannot be boiled for several hours) for 2-6 WEEKS... essentially gutting your house, boiling and freezing everying, and saturating everyone in some serious pesticides. Weeks of your life spent in total isolation, and 10's of thousands of dollars.

Scabies is the original 7 year itch. As in, before the meds and plastic, it typically took YEARS to get rid of.

Because you've been exposed, what *I* would do is "round 1". Which means

- Boil all clothes and sheets
- Steam clean all furniture & carpets (including mattresses and car)
- Completely douse in scabie-killer.

Because all that only takes a day or two, and is only a couple hundred bucks.

Because I've spent weeks and 10's of thousands.

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The thing about scabies... is that you become infected via touch. Sitting in a chair that someone else sat in, shaking hands, having your coat hanging next to their coat, etc. Scabies, unlike lice (so much easier to deal with lice!), is microscopic. You can't see them, and they get. into. everything. Shudder. HATE scabies.

Yes. Keep him home. You don't want your son getting it. Frequent hand washing, look for rashes or sores---keep your son's fingernails cut short and clean under the nail beds often. Do that with your nails as well. Good luck.

If he had them you would know. They are a red rash that is mostly on the hands, between the fingers. It looks like they have dipped their hands into something that broke them out.

The critters get under the skin and they itch. Then when the person touches somewhere else they move to the new area making a huge itchy rash there too. That's how it's spread. By touch.

So if he doesn't have a rash on his hands that looks painful and itches he is fine. The other kids have been to the doc and are treated by now so there's no reason to take off work and keep him home.

I would keep him home as long as possible just to make sure the school has gotten rid of it. I don't have any personal experience with it but my friend has. She spent hundreds of dollars on medicine, sprays, new bedding, towels, carpet/furniture cleaners. It took forever for her to get rid of it.
I would maybe call your family doctor and tell them your son was exposed to it at school. Maybe they'll call you in a prescription just incase he did come in contact with it. Also, you should probably vacuum everywhere and wash all the bedding in hot water with bleach.

yes, keep him home until you are sure that the preschool is scabie free. they are very contagious and it could take up to 6 weeks to realize that you are infected with them. So whoever had scabies in preschool was infected 6 weeks before they started to show the signs and symptoms. They can look like little poison ivy bubbles on the skin.

For complete guide to scabies read the CDC recommendations for dealing with scabies

From the CDC website
How soon after infestation do symptoms of scabies begin?

If a person has never had scabies before, symptoms may take as long as 4-6 weeks to begin. It is important to remember that an infested person can spread scabies during this time, even if he/she does not have symptoms yet.

Below is the link for the Center for Disease Control scabies fact sheet.

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/scabies/gen_info/faqs.html#h...