Question: A new patient is complaining of severe pruritus that is worse at night. Several family members also have the same symptoms. Upon examination, areas of excoriated papules are noted on some of the interdigital webs of both hands and on the axillae. This finding is most consistent with:

Question: A new patient is complaining of severe pruritus that is worse at night. Several family members also have the same symptoms. Upon examination, areas of excoriated papules are noted on some of the interdigital webs of both hands and on the axillae. This finding is most consistent with:

A new patient is complaining of severe pruritus that is worse at night

Answer:
The patient is most likely suffering from scabies, a condition caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. Scabies is highly contagious and is typically passed through skin-to-skin contact. The mite burrows into the skin, causing intense itching and irritation. The most common symptom of scabies is itching that is worse at night. Other symptoms include the development of small, raised bumps on the skin and thin, wavy lines on the surface of the skin. Scabies is typically treated with a topical cream or lotion that contains permethrin.