Alberta Health Services is contacting people who may have been exposed to an Alberta Children’s Hospital patient recently diagnosed with scabies.
According to AHS, there is presently no risk to patients, visitors and staff of the hospital.
Scabies, caused by burrowing mites laying eggs under the top layer of the skin, is contracted through the sharing of clothes, towels or bedding, or skin-to-skin contact, with a carrier.
Symptoms of infection, which include a rash on the wrist, elbows, knees or between the fingers and severe itching, may appear after several weeks.
Patients diagnosed with scabies require special lotions or creams to kill the mites.
For more information about scabies, visit MyHealth.Alberta
