Insight into scabies.

Scabies, an infectious disease caused by the scabies mite, manifests as an intensely pruritic skin rash. Children, the underprivileged, and patients with immunocompromise are at a higher risk of acquiring this contagious disease. Infectivity occurs worldwide in patients of all races, ages, and sex. The classical appearance of papular burrows between the webbed spaces of digits or along the wrists can help distinguish scabies from other dermatologic diseases. Practitioners need to be familiar with how scabies may present so that patients can be treated and taught how to prevent spread of the disease.