What are scabies? How are scabies transmitted? What are the symptoms of scabies? How does an HIV/AIDS infection interact with scabies? How are scabies diagnosed? Is there a treatment for scabies? What are the causes of treatment failure? Who are at risk of contracting scabies? How can people with scabies prevent transmission?

The diagnosis of scabies is typically based on a classical symptom history accompanied by characteristic skin lesions identified by your physician (once again, intense itchiness, worse at night, bumps and burrows in common skin regions). The diagnosis of scabies may be difficult at times given that the visual signs may be subtle or may be confused with eczema. At times the diagnosis is based presumptively on your symptom history and is confirmed by your response to treatment. Your physician may apply a drop of mineral oil to a suspicious lesion and scrape the surface with a slide. Microscopic analysis may reveal the parasite, its eggs or feces. Your physician may use the "ink test", whereby a black-tip felt pen is applied to a suspicious lesion; if this is a burrow the ink will seep into the tract and help confirm the diagnosis.

When crabs or scabies are diagnosed as a sexually transmitted disease, a complete STI screening examination should be considered.