Scabies

Scabies is a skin disease distinguished by severe itchiness. It is caused by mites. These are tiny spider-like creatures which live in the top layers of human skin. Scabies is not a sexually transmitted infection in the usual sense, but it can be passed on during sex.

In people with weakened immune systems, such as from HIV, the mites often reproduce much faster. This can sometimes lead to so-called crusted scabies, which causes a severe scaly rash and thickened crusts of skin. It is highly infectious.