• Suspected Sarcoptes scabiei infestation; the diagnosis should be verified because it is often overdiagnosed.

• Glass microscope slide.

• Mineral oil.

• Cotton-tipped applicator.

• Microscope.

• #15 scalpel blade or other device to scrape skin.

• Minimal discomfort and bleeding with vigorous scraping.

• Scrape burrows or unexcoriated papules.

• The highest yield of mites, eggs, or fecal pellets is from the burrows, which are most commonly found on hands or feet.

• If many family members have lesions, perform the scraping on the parents, who are often more cooperative and less fearful than infants or young children.

• Treatment includes eradication of the mites on the patient, treatment of associated problems (pruritus, scabietic nodules), treatment of personal contacts, and destruction of the mite in the patient’s surroundings.