What is a common characteristic of scabies in children?

Scabies in children is characterized by intense itching, known as pruritus, which typically worsens at night. This increased itching is due to the body's immune response to the mites that cause scabies. The mites burrow into the skin, leading to an inflammatory reaction that often causes significant discomfort, particularly during nighttime when the body's natural itch response can be heightened.

The other options do not accurately reflect the traits or behaviors associated with scabies. For instance, scabies is equally common among preschool children, and it is not caused by a virus; rather, it is caused by a parasitic infestation of the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. Moreover, while scabies can affect the scalp in some cases, it does not exclusively affect that area; it commonly involves the webbing between fingers, wrists, belly button, and buttocks, among other regions. The distinctive pruritic characteristic, especially worsening at night, is a key feature clinicians use in diagnosing and managing scabies in children.