The ongoing scabies epidemic is getting worse as increasing numbers of people are persistently re-infected, a dermatologist has warned.
Dr Emma Amoafo-Mensah told Yahoo News that she has seen an increase in the number of patients attending her clinic with persistent scabies, and blames continued drug shortages, people not being treated quickly enough, and some patients misusing the treatment.
“While they wait, there is a high risk of scabies spreading to those around them and the problem gets worse,” he said.
Scabies is a rash caused by mites that lay eggs under your skin. Although it can infect anywhere, it tends to spread to the hands, groin, around the waist and butt.
Concerns about the epidemic were further sharpened in the autumn of 2023, when outbreaks were described as a public health problem that was “snowballing” after incidents were reported in some nursing homes and universities.
In January, experts warned that shortages of some medicines were putting patient safety at risk, describing the system as “unviable and broken” and calling on the Government to recognize the seriousness of the problem. Figures from the Royal College of General Practitioners show the number of scabies infections remained higher than normal across the UK in January.
If scabies is not treated properly, the infection can last for months or even years, according to the British Association of Dermatologists.
Dr Dan, who works in an NHS hospital, has been a dermatologist for four years and a qualified doctor for nine years. Emma Amoafo-Mensah flagged down the growing problem in a TikTok video to her 15,000 followers. If you are diagnosed with scabies, you need to follow all treatment instructions, make sure that the treatment is applied to all parts of your skin, and pay special attention to places such as your hands, feet, and groin. and under your nails.
“The treatment itself is laborious, can cause irritation and needs to be repeated after seven days, making compliance with treatment difficult for some. If all contacts are not treated, re-infection often occurs.”
“Everyone and their grandmother has scabies right now, scabies rates are absolutely through the roof right now for some reason,” he said in a video released Tuesday.
In September, the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) warned that shortages were extending to May 2023 after demand for treatments surged in Europe due to supply chain issues and rising raw material costs.
In January, BAD told the Guardian that the spread of scabies, particularly in congregate living facilities such as care homes and universities, was making treatment difficult. Prof Mabs Chowdhury, president of BAD, said: “If even one person is not fully treated, anyone can become re-infected. Given the challenges and treatment gaps in social care, public health agencies need to plan for outbreaks in care facilities.” “
Pediatric dermatologist Dr Tess McPherson, also from BAD, told Yahoo News on Wednesday that overall data on outbreaks was limited because the total number of cases was not tracked, but there was “anecdotal evidence” to suggest the outbreak was ongoing.
He added that drug shortages remain: “We are aware that this situation has been exacerbated by the lack of effective treatments due to shortages of two drugs used in the past for scabies (permethrin and malathion).”
According to Dr McPherson, the UK has recently licensed ivermectin, a tablet that can be taken orally rather than a cream.
What are the symptoms of scabies and how to avoid scabies?
The rash appears red and raised and may be darker in skin color. It can also cause pustules and red scratches on your skin. One of the main symptoms is intense itching that lasts throughout the night. Although scabies is highly contagious, it is safe to have contact with uninfected people within 24 hours of starting treatment.
Creams called permethrin and malathion are available from the pharmacist and work quickly, but it may take weeks for the itching to subside.
If someone you know has scabies, the safest precaution is to avoid physical contact with them or the surfaces they come into contact with. Experts say washing your hands as often as possible after touching potentially infected objects can reduce the chance of catching scabies from another person who comes into contact with those surfaces.
Dr McPherson says: “In terms of tackling scabies, it is important to emphasize that anyone can get scabies; it is not a matter of poor hygiene and does not help stigmatize the condition as this can lead to a delay in receiving treatment or ensuring all contacts are treated.”
Some people get scabies after having sex with someone who has scabies, and it is considered a non-genital STI.
What should you do if you catch scabies?
The first thing to do after taking the medication is to make sure you follow the instructions in the instructions for use with your cream. You can also find step by step information here.
Dr. Mensah advises scabies sufferers to wash bedding on high heat to get rid of mites and to place anything too soft to wash in a plastic bag for three days.
Similarly, Baqir Khan, owner of Proactive Cleaners, recommends making sure your home is thoroughly cleaned to prevent the spread of scabies. Khan said: “Aim for a minimum of 50C or higher for water temperature. This is the ideal temperature to kill scabies mites and their eggs. Ideally, aim to wash these items at least once a week to minimize the risk of re-infection. .”
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