Recent outbreaks of scabies have created a worldwide increase in the incidence of this disorder. The diagnosis is often overlooked in infants and children because of a low index of suspicion on the part of clinicians, a frequent lack of pathognomonic burrows, secondary eczematous changes suggesting other diagnoses, and an atypical distribution to include the head, neck, palms, and soles.
This report of five babies with scabies is presented to draw attention to a localized outbreak of this disorder in this country, to serve as a reminder of the need for continued awareness of this condition, and to indicate variations in the clinical picture as seen in infants and children.