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Incubation period

Long-Term Care Nursing Advisor, May 18, 2007

In people without previous exposure, the incubation period is two to six weeks before onset of itching. People who have been previously infested are much more sensitive and usually develop symptoms one to four days after reexposure. Be suspicious if residents and employees develop a rash and itching in a short period of time. Scabies is fairly common in long-term care, but the diagnosis of the condition is almost always delayed for a prolonged period of time. Scabies can imitate and may be misdiagnosed as many other skin conditions, including allergy, insect bites, hives, eczema, folliculitis, contact or atomic dermatitis, impetigo, rosacea, psoriasis, lymphoma, and drug reactions.

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