Schools confirm two cases of scabies

ST. MARYS - St. Marys City Schools officials have reported two cases of scabies at the primary school.

The cases were discovered Thursday, and the children were sent home. School staff washed everything to prevent exposure to other students, superintendent Howard Overman said today.

The diagnosed cases were not the more serious Norwegian scabies, which was recently discovered in the Dayton area, Auglaize County Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher said. The local cases are of a variety that is not as infectious nor as contagious. No other cases have been confirmed in Auglaize County.

Scabies are mites that burrow into the upper layer of skin, where they live and lay their eggs. To the naked eye, a scabies rash may look like tiny black dots on the skin. Symptoms include itching, especially at night; a pimple-like itchy rash, which could include tiny blisters; and the appearance of track-like burrows in the skin.

If a person has never had scabies, symptoms may not appear for as long as four to six weeks, according to health department information. The infestation may be spread during this time, even though the symptoms may not be apparent. If a person has previously had scabies, symptoms usually appear much sooner - one to four days after exposure.

Scabies is spread by skin-to-skin contact or by sharing articles of clothing, towels or bedding, according to the information. Rooms and vehicles of an infested person should be thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed after use. Bedding and clothing should be machine-washed and dried using hot water and dryer cycles. Items that cannot be dry cleaned or laundered can be disinfested by storing in a closed plastic bag for several days to a week.

Any suspected scabies cases should be diagnosed by a physician. Parents are asked to watch their children for any symptoms, Overman said.

No scabies outbreak has been reported in Mercer County, according to Mercer County-Celina City Health Department epidemiologist Deb Scheer.