Scabies is caused by a microscopic (<1 mm) mite called Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. The scabies mite causes symptoms when it digs a little tunnel below the skin (referred to as a burrow) and causes a type of allergic reaction. If the person has never been exposed to scabies before, he or she may not show symptoms until four to six weeks after the initial infestation. Individuals who have been exposed in the past usually show symptoms within a few days.

Scabies is almost always spread by protracted skin-to-skin contact with a person who carries the mite. Less commonly, scabies infestation can happen through the sharing of clothes and bedding. Theoretically, you can get scabies from touching something that the mite is on, but that is not a major mode of transmission.

Typically after a couple weeks of having scabies you will begin to intensly itch at night and you will have a cluster type rash develop. When you get to this point of scabies you should contact a doctor immediately as scabies is very hard to treat.