There are little or no symptoms when the mite is first acquired. Localized itching in one of several areas begins and scratching commences. Redness and scaling appear. The classic sites of involvement include the finger webs, the axilla, the central abdomen, the ankles and the areola of the breast.

Redness and scaling on the backs of the hands and especially on the finger webs is a common finding in scabies
Erosions and small red nodules on the penis and scrotum are diagnostic of scabies.
Patient’s who have scabies for longer than 6 weeks become miserable. Itching is worse at night and disturbs the sleep. The patient becomes frantic when inappropriate treatments fail.