scabies treatment ---------------------------- -PERMETHRIN 5%: Patients should massage permethrin cream thoroughly into the skin from the neck to the soles of the feet, including areas under the fingernails and toenails. Thirty grams is usually sufficient for an average adult. The hairline, neck, temples, and forehead may be infested in infants and geriatric patients. In these populations, permethrin should also be applied to the scalp and face, sparing the eyes and mouth. The cream should be removed by washing (shower or bath) after 8 to 14 hours. Although the relative efficacy of one versus two applications of permethrin has not been formally studied, a second application one to two weeks later has been recommended. Cotton mitts or socks on the hands of infants and young children at bedtime will prevent them from rubbing the cream into their eyes -Antihistamines can help control itching, which often persists for one to two weeks even after successful treatment because of the hypersensitivity reaction to mites, mite feces, and mite eggs. For at least some etiologies of pruritus, nonsedating antihistamines appear to be as effective as sedating antihistamines. We typically suggest the use of a nonsedating antihistamine during the day, and a sedating antihistamine at night --------------------------- MITES: In typical conditions, mites can survive off a host for 24 to 36 hours. They can survive much longer in colder conditions with high relative humidity