These tiny mites, members of the arachnid family, are microscopic, rounded with no eyes and are also called human itch mites or or mange mites. The presence of the mite leads to intense itching in the area of its burrows. The urge to scratch may be especially strong while you’re in bed at night.

What is the difference between scabies and bed bugs?:

While bed bugs and scabies both feed on your blood, bed bugs do it from outside, while scabies actually get ? literally ? under your skin. Bed bugs suck your blood as they sit atop your skin; scabies burrow under your dermis skin to feed and lay eggs. And while bed bugs are small, they are visible to the naked eye. Scabies on the other hand are microscopic in size, which means you can’t see them with the naked eye.

What Causes a Scabies Infestation?:

Scabies is found worldwide among people of all groups and ages. It is spread by direct contact with infected people and less often by sharing clothing or bedding. Sometimes whole families are affected. The mites that cause scabies burrow into the skin and deposit their eggs, forming a burrow that looks like a pencil mark. Eggs mature in 21 days. The itchy rash is an allergic response to the mite.

How to Prevent a Scabies Infestation?:

Scabies is prevented by avoiding direct skin-to-skin contact with an infested person or with items such as clothing or bedding used by an infested person. Scabies treatment usually is recommended for members of the same household, particularly for those who have had prolonged skin-to-skin contact. All household members and other potentially exposed persons should be treated at the same time as the infested person to prevent possible re-exposure and re-infestation. Bedding and clothing worn or used next to the skin anytime during the 3 days before treatment should be machine washed and dried using the hot water and hot dryer cycles or be dry-cleaned. Items that cannot be dry-cleaned or laundered can be disinfected by storing in a closed plastic bag for several days to a week. Scabies mites generally do not survive more than 2 to 3 days away from human skin. Children and adults usually can return to child care, school, or work the day after treatment.

What are the Symptoms of a Scabies Infestation?:

Itching, especially at night.
Rashes.
Sores (abrasions) on the skin from scratching and digging.
Thin, pencil-mark lines on the skin.

How to Remove a Scabies Infestation:

Scabies mites do not survive more than 2-3 days away from human skin.
Items such as bedding, clothing and towels used by a person with scabies can be decontaminated by machine-washing in hot water and drying using the hot cycle or by dry-cleaning.
Items that cannot be washed should be sealed and stored for approximately one week, because scabies mites die within one to four days if not in contact with human skin.
Remove any clutter, including stacks of paper and laundry piles. Scabies mites can be found almost anywhere - in piles of newspapers and discarded papers, bedding, carpets, air ducts, dusty attics, even lampshades and dirty laundry. Scabies mites are also drawn to crowded environments, such as nursing homes, day care centers and college dormitories. Because these pests can hide almost everywhere, the first thing you should do as part of your scabies mite treatment is de-clutter your house or office. Remove all those unwanted newspaper and magazines, clean those air ducts and vacuum that dusty attic or cobwebby basement.
Clothing, bedding, etc. should be cleaned in very hot water.
Carpets, rugs, draperies and upholstery should be vacuumed, preferably with a Hepa-filter. Vacuum the entire house and discard the bag, just to be on the safe side.

Treating Carpet, Rugs and Upholstery with Steri-Fab to Eliminate Scabies Infestation:

The carpet and upholstery can be cleaned and treated, if desired, with Steri-Fab^® Disinfectant, Insecticide, Deodorizer, Mildewcide.
Steri-Fab will kill mites that are on the surface, but it is usually hard to get the mites that are deep down in the fiber base of a rug or carpet. Extraction cleaning of the rug or carpet will ensure that the fibers deep down near the base of the rug are treated as well.
Usage of Steri-Fab on upholstered furniture is dependent on size; however, a typical couch or sofa will require 10-12 ounces per application. (A gallon will cover approximately 8-10 pieces of upholstered furniture.) NOTE: Sterifab must be shaken well before and during application to ensure that the identification crystals are dispersed evenly. Larger mattresses, upholstered furniture, etc., may require more Sterifab than the estimates stated above.
Warning: Always test materials for colorfastness, follow label directions, and never mix products unless specified in the label directions. Each situation reacts differently and results may vary.
Do not spray Steri-Fab around or on cats, dogs or other animals.

NOTE: Many states require that a contractor applying a pest control product be licensed. Please contact your state EPA office for further information.

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Published by: Bane-Clene^® Corp.
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Scabies - What is it? What Causes it? How to Eliminate Scabies from Carpet, Rugs, Furniture and Upholstery?

Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by a tiny, eight-legged burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabiei.