Scabies is an itchy skin infection that’s causing epidemics all over the world.
It is brought on by mites, similar to head lice, but much smaller. These mites burrow under the skin, lay eggs and reproduce, triggering an immune response that causes the unpleasant itching related to the disease.
Outbreaks often occur in institutional settings akin to nursing homes for older people. In October 2024, outbreaks around universities in the UK have been reported in the media.
The incubation period for scabies is generally 4 to six weeks. This is the time between infection – the mite getting onto the skin after which under it – until the patient develops symptoms akin to classic unpleasant itching.
So cases reported in October 2024 would have been infected in mid-to-late September, across the time students arrived at universities across the country.
Given this long incubation period, stopping and controlling outbreaks could also be difficult. The condition may also be difficult to diagnose because clinical signs could also be difficult to detect on the skin – for instance between the toes.
Transmission often occurs through prolonged skin-to-skin contact and the sharing of contaminated bedding, towels, clothes and soft furnishings, where the dust mites can wait and crawl onto the subsequent one who uses them. The guidelines recommend wash bedding, clothes and towels at high temperatures to kill dust mites, or if this isn’t possible, seal items in plastic bags for 3 to 4 days.
Stigma and under-reporting
Data from The Royal College of General Practitioners’ report on infectious and respiratory diseases in England for October 2024 shows that the variety of reported cases of scabies is higher than the seasonal average.
These official figures are also likely to be conservative. Like many skin infections, scabies is a stigmatized disease and is due to this fact under-reported or delayed. are common.
There is a belief that scabies is a disease of the “unwashed”. This is probably going be incorrectwhereby the burrowing of scabies signifies that it simply can’t be washed off with a shower. In addition, scabies may appear in areas covered with clothesincluding in the groin or buttocks – another excuse for stigma and underreporting. This signifies that the info we’ve will likely be much lower than the actual variety of cases.
Treatment and prevention
Treatment often involves applying a skin lotion called permethrin or sometimes one other cream called malathion. For creams to be effective, they have to be rubbed everywhere in the body, not only at the location of infection.
Ivermectin, taken by mouth, can be extremely effective in the treatment of scabies and could be prescribed to control outbreaks. Public information campaigns can assist warn the general public and describe possible symptoms.
World Health Organization defines the scope diseases as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). As the name suggests, most of them are found mainly in tropical countries. These include skin infections akin to leprosy and mosquito-borne diseases akin to dengue. However, scabies is exclusive amongst individuals with degenerative diseases in that it’s common in more temperate environments akin to the UK. Dust mites thrive in almost any climate, and the infection persists if not diagnosed and treated properly.
In September 2023, there have been scabies outbreaks and treatment shortages in the UK. It is uncertain whether shortages will occur in October 2024 due to the epidemic. Regardless, anyone who suffers from persistent itching or is exposed to scabies should report it to a health care skilled for follow-up.
Although scabies doesn’t kill many individuals, it’s a thoroughly unpleasant infection that has a big impact on the standard of life. Awareness and early reporting can assist to quickly eliminate the epidemic.