Mites in the environment of cases of Norwegian scabies.

Three cases of Norwegian Scabies diagnosed in Glasgow hospitals within 1 year each caused wide-spread outbreaks of papular eruptions amongst the patients and staff, followed later by a few cases of classical scabies. Symptoms and timing suggested that these infections were caused by immature mites derived by personal contact and possibly by contact with infected cuticular fragments which were abundant in the environment of the three patients. To control a ward epidemic, isolation of the Norwegian scabietic should be followed by environmental and then by personal disinfestation.