Scabies is caused by a microscopic mite. The female Sarcoptes scabiei burrows into the skin and lays eggs, which ultimately hatch mite larvae. These tiny mites then work their way to the surface of your skin and can spread to other areas of your body or that of others.  Scabies is most often spread by close physical contact.  There are different types of scabies mite that affects dogs, cats, and humans. It is uncommon to get scabies from other species, as each type of scabies mite prefers one host. Certain people may be more likely to contract or have a recurrence of scabies. Being aware of your risk factor may make it easier to identify and get treatment, as well as prevent outbreaks. The following groups are particularly susceptible to scabies:  Children Mothers of small children Sexually active young adults Residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or extended-care facilities Persons with weakened immune systems Persons who have received organ transplants Once you’ve come in contact with a scabies mite, it can take anywhere from one day to six weeks to develop a reaction. People who have had scabies previously generally take less time to see a reaction, while those who have never had scabies often see a reaction only weeks later. The most common signs and symptoms of of scabies include:  Itching, mostly in the evening Rash, which is often in a line on the skin and can look like hives or tiny bites Sores, which are often a result of scratching from the mites Thick crusts on the skin, which are a sign of Norwegian scabies, a severe form of the condition. Scabies can occur on any part of your body, but there are certain areas that they are more likely found. Scabies burrows or tracks are typically found in the folds of skin:  Between fingers In armpits Around the waist Along the inner arm, especially the wrist and elbow On the bottoms of feet Near the breasts Near male genitalia On the buttocks On knees Around the shoulder blades Infants and young children are especially susceptible to scabies, in particular if they visit daycare or go to school. In infants and young children, the most common areas on which to find scabies are the:  Scalp Face Neck Palms of the hands Soles of the feet Because there is no over-the-counter cure for scabies, it is important to see your doctor as soon as you notice symptoms or suspect you’ve been exposed to scabies. This can help ensure you get treatment and may help prevent spreading the mites on your skin or to others. Don’t leave scabies untreated. Doing so can result in Norwegian scabies or skin infections such as impetigo. Norwegian scabies, in particular, can spread to large areas of the body and be difficult to treat. If you’ve identified symptoms of scabies or know that you’ve been exposed, schedule an appointment with your doctor. They will likely ask you a series of questions. Being prepared for your appointment can help them rule out possible other conditions.  Take a list of any signs or symptoms you’ve notice and for how long. Tell your doctor about possible and definite exposure you’ve had to scabies. If your doctor diagnoses you or another family member with scabies, they’ll likely want to examine other members of the household, even if they don’t have any symptoms of scabies. Your doctor will examine your skin for typical signs of scabies including burrows or rashes. They may be able to definitively diagnose scabies simply by looking at your skin. Show your doctor any areas of your body that may be causing you discomfort or on which you’ve spotted the symptoms of scabies. In some cases, your doctor may take a small scraping from a suspect area of your skin following your skin examination. They can then analyze it under a microscope to see if any mites are present, giving you a definitive diagnosis. Your doctor doesn’t need a large sample of your skin. They may scrape off the cells with a scalpel or other instrument. This may cause minor discomfort, but will not last for long.

Summary: Learn about scabies. Be aware of your risk factor. Recognize possible symptoms. Observe symptoms on your body. Watch for symptoms in young children. Schedule an appointment with your doctor. See your doctor. Undergo a skin examination. Scrape off skin cells.


If you’re collecting a sample from the tap, let the water run for at least 1 minute. Then, fill the glass so it’s at least ¾ of the way full. This is more than enough to spot anything out of the ordinary in a sample. For pools of water, scoop up a sample with the glass. You don’t need to sterilize the glass first. Think of the crystal clear water at a beautiful beach. Clean water looks transparent and doesn’t have anything floating in it. If you can’t see your hand on the other side of the glass, you’re probably not going to enjoy drinking that water. Anything floating in the glass could be a sign of bacteria or other problems.  Before getting on the phone with your water department, set the glass down and wait for a minute. Sometimes milky water clears up right away. That means the color came from air bubbles, so your water is safe to drink.  Hard water is water that has calcium, magnesium, and other minerals in it. The minerals cause the water to look a little cloudy. It is usually safe to drink but can be fixed with a water softener to avoid damage to your plumbing. Treat water with colored particles. For example, brown or orange particles are from rusty pipes while black ones come from rubber. Call a plumber to fix the problem. Even if your water doesn’t have anything floating in it, it may still not look completely clear. Discolored water not only looks gross but is a big red flag. These colors also turn up as stains on your dishes, clothing, bathtub, and other places. Use the strange coloring to figure out the source of the contamination before paying for a more comprehensive purity test.  For instance, brown water is a very common problem. The contamination comes from dirt and other sediments, which you might see settle at the bottom of the glass. Red and orange colors come from rusty pipes. Black could mean you have lead in the water, a very toxic metal that also often comes from pipes. Green usually means algae grew in your water supply, so don’t drink it. If it has a blue-green coloring, it could be copper instead. A black stain could also mean mold. If the water smells bad, play it safe by assuming that it is going to be unsafe to drink. Sometimes water has that distinct rotten egg smell of sulfur, which comes from bacteria in the water. Other times, it could have the smell of a swimming pool because of chlorine contamination.  If your water smells like nail polish or varnish, that could mean that some chemical leaked into the water supply. It might be from a home improvement project, for instance.  Purify water by filtering and boiling it to remove contaminants. If you’re using municipal water, call your city or utility company. Contact your local government for more information. If you don’t see anything unusual about the water, taste a little bit of it with the tip of your tongue. You can usually detect polluted water right away. Bitterness often means metal in the water, so order a more complete water test as you look for problems. If you detect salt instead and live near the sea, seawater could be leaking into your plumbing.  Clean water has a flat, bland taste. If your sample tastes metallic or like a fizzy soda, don’t risk drinking it. Keep in mind that you can’t always taste water quality issues. Things like bacteria and pesticides may not be easy to detect. Normally you can tell by looking at the water, but double-check with a lab test if necessary.
Summary: Fill a clean, clear glass full of water. Hold the glass up to the light to see if it looks cloudy. Look for color changes in the water. Smell the water to see if it smells harsh or rotten. Taste the water for bitterness if it looks safe to drink.