Question
An 8-year-old girl developed scabies two months ago. Although she has recovered, she now wakes up suddenly in the middle of the night and is unable to fall back asleep until just before dawn. She is unwilling to get up in the morning. Could her current sleep problems be related to the scabies she had?
Answer
The girl’s scabies has been cured, but she may have residual symptoms of neuralgia. Apart from sleep interruptions during the night, she seems to have no other symptoms. The parents believe that her current sleep problems are related to her previous scabies infection, although the specific cause cannot be determined at this point. If the parents feel it is necessary, they can seek assistance from a psychological counselor.