Neonatal scabies in times of confinement: An unexpected guest to be recognised

Key PointsBabies tend to show lesions earlier than adults. Therefore, the absence of other affected people in the infant's close environment should not lead to the exclusion of scabies of the differential diagnosis.Babies have special forms of presentation of scabies, with cephalic, hand and foot involvement, localised or unilateral distributions, as well as more frequent nodular lesions, particularly in axilla. J-shaped burrows are also characteristic in this age group.Direct visualisation of mites, ova or faeces by microscopy, high-power image or dermoscopy is required to confirm the diagnosis. However, the sensitivity of these techniques is highly operator-dependent, and the equipment is not always available. Thus, knowing the different patterns of scabies according to age is essential for early clinical diagnosis and treatment.