An outbreak of scabies, a contagious skin condition, has prompted a health alert at Port Townsend High School. The school's Facebook page was used on Friday, Nov. 14 to inform families of what high school authorities learned through various contacts from parents. As of Nov. 14, there were at least 10 confirmed cases of students with scabies at PTHS.

Because scabies is a contagious skin condition, authorities at the high school wish to inform families so they can evaluate their teenagers; then seek medical treatment as soon as possible if visible symptoms of the disease are present. Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. The itching is caused by an allergic reaction to the mites. Not everyone reacts the same but itching is present for sure; most likely small red bumps on the skin as well.

According to the Facebook release from PTHS, individuals with scabies often report unusual rashes on various parts of their bodies. Scabies spreads easily from person to person, is transmitted through skin to skin contact, clothing, and/or bedding. It affects people of all ages in all living situations. Clothing and bedding of infected households should be washed in hot water.

PTHS has taken extra precautions by having the classrooms in the school sanitized. For more information on scabies visit

tinyurl.com/ndmga6x.

As per the Mayo Clinic website (tinyurl.com/nyedt55), symptoms of scabies include but aren't limited to:

- Itching, often severe and usually worse at night.

- Thin, irregular burrow tracks made up of tiny blisters or bumps on the skin.

- The burrows or tracks typically appear between skin folds.

- In children, common sites of infestation include the scalp, face, neck, palms of hands and soles of feet. In adults, the symptoms are often present between fingers, in armpits, around the waist, insides of wrists, inner elbow, soles of feet, breasts, genital areas, buttocks, knees and shoulder blades.

Note that many skin conditions, such as dermatitis or eczema, are associated with itching and small bumps on the skin. A family physician may determine the exact cause and indicate proper treatment.

Scabies spreads quickly through close physical contact in a family, child care group, school class or nursing home. Because of the contagious nature of scabies, doctors often recommend treatment for entire families or contact groups to eliminate the mites.

Scabies is readily treated and it must be treated as the condition doesn't improve by itself; bathing and over-the-counter preparations don't eliminate scabies. Medication is required to kill the mites and to keep them from spreading to other people. Medications applied to skin kill mites that cause the rash and their eggs, although people afflicted with the condition may still experience itching for several weeks after treatment.

For further questions, contact the local health department at 385-9400 or your medical provider.