Scabies is a contagious skin infestation of the scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei variety hominis. It is characterised by an intensely itchy rash that is an allergic reaction to presence of the mite in the stratum corneum (just under the skin).
Older adults are the age group most vulnerable to scabies. Scabies rash can take four to six weeks to develop, during which time infestation can spread by skin-to-skin contact throughout an aged residential care (ARC) setting. Some older people do not develop a classic rash, which delays diagnosis further.
