Classic and Crusted Scabies: Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis

Scabies is a contagious infection of the epidermis caused by infestation with Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. These mites, which have a four- to eight-week life span, fertilize on the skin surface; the females then burrow into the stratum corneum to lay eggs. After the eggs hatch in three weeks, the larvae emerge on the surface of the skin to continue the cycle (“Scabies,” StatPearls, July 31, 2024, https://bit.ly/44nExZj). The itchy rash of classic scabies is due to a hypersensitivity reaction to the mite and its eggs and feces (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “About Scabies,” Sept.