Scabies mites are very sensitive to their environment. They can only live off of a host body for 24-36 hours under most conditions. Transmission of the mites involves close person-to-person contact of the skin-to-skin variety. It is hard, if not impossible, to catch scabies by shaking hands, hanging your coat next to someone who has it, or even sharing bedclothes that had mites in them the night before. Sexual physical contact, however, can transmit the disease. In fact, sexual contact is the most common form of transmission among sexually active young people.

However, other forms of physical contact, such as mothers hugging their children, are sufficient to spread the mites. Over time, close friends and relatives can contract it this way, too. School settings typically do not provide the level of prolonged personal contact necessary for transmission of the mites.

Unfortunately scabies are alot easier to contact than one would imagine. I have not been in a close personal relationship for over a year and the only places I've been other than the usual store shopping were the dr., physical therapy and my part time job. I will not use public restrooms anymore and because I have sensitive skin these unwanted and unwelcomed scabies have really been a pain. 2 weeks after the 2nd and last treatment, I am still itching and thank God the scars are healing. I have been spraying collodial silver twice daily on my skin and I believe that has kept me from getting a secondary infection. I would not wish this upon my worst enemy and I also pray that I will never get scabies again!