This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Investigation, diagnosis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • extraction of mite from the burrow using a sharp needle
  • ink test - to show a burrow
  • microscopic examination of skin scrapings (1)
    • skin scrapings are taken with a blunt scalpel blade or sterile needle point. If mites, faecal pellets, eggs or eggshells are seen it confirms the diagnosis of scabies (but it is not necessary to make a diagnosis) (1)
    • when direct examination is not possible or in atypical cases a skin biopsy may be done to confirm the diagnosis (1)

Note that scabies should not be excluded when a history of itching is lacking (1):

  • some people do not seem to suffer from itch
  • some are reluctant to admit possible scabies diagnosis
  • very young babies may not scratch, they might feed poorly and seem miserable

Classical scabies should be differentiated from (1):

  • animal scabies occasionally infesting humans, which is usually spread from pets. The distribution of the lesions are in areas that have been in contact with pets
  • pubic and body lice, insect bites
  • dermatological conditions such as Acropustulosis, which is a recurrent self-limited, pruritic, vesiculopustular eruption of the palms and soles, occurring in infants aged 2-3 years, atopic eczema, bullous pemphigoid, contact dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, folliculitis, Grover's disease, Impetigo, Langerhan's cell histiocytosis, lichen planus, neurodermatitis, prurigo nodularis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, SLE and urticaria pigmentosa

Reference:

  • 1. Engelman D, Yoshizumi J, Hay RJ, et al. The 2020 International Alliance for the Control of Scabies Consensus Criteria for the Diagnosis of Scabies. Br J Dermatol. 2020 Nov;183(5):808-820.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.