This is caused by a tiny burrowing mite. The pregnant female enters the skin, usually around the wrist and ankles, to lay its eggs which hatch after four to five days. The rash consists of little separate blisters and sometimes the mite’s burrowing tract can be seen in the webs of the fingers and toes. The condition causes extreme itching especially at night when the body is warm.

Treatment This consists of painting the body all over from the neck downwards ( do not forget the soles of the feet !) with a lotion of gamma benzene hexachloride or malathion. All clothing and bed clothes should be changed and simple washing and dry cleaning will be sufficient to kill off any mites. The itchiness may continue for several weeks in spite of the complete eradication of the mite and this should be treated with calamine lotion.