Scabies causes and how to treat it as UK cases rise

Newly published data reveals that hundreds of people have been impacted by a rare skin condition. NHS figures show an increase in diagnoses of scabies, an itchy rash caused by mites that can affect anyone and is spread through close skin contact.

The NHS recommends immediate treatment to prevent its spread. Despite typically being non-serious and easily treatable with creams or lotions, it can cause severe itching.

The BBC has heard from people at five universities around the country, who spoke of multiple cases arising "out of nowhere" and whole houses having scabies. One student said BBC "tiny red dots" along his wrist had begun spreading.

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Reports indicate that there is currently a shortage of the two drugs used to treat it, permethrin and malathion, due to the war in Ukraine and rising raw material costs. Experts warn that while the condition itself is not severe, it could exacerbate other existing conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, and scratching could lead to infection and impetigo, potentially resulting in life-threatening conditions.

The rise in diseases like scabies, along with measles and whooping cough, is being attributed to poverty and falling vaccination rates by experts. Measles usually begins with cold-like symptoms before developing into a rash.

If it spreads to the lungs or brain, it can lead to serious complications. Across England, hospital visits resulting in a measles diagnosis increased five-fold, to 2,305 visits last year. This was the largest increase among any condition with at least 1,000 hospitalisations in England.

For those affected by scabies, pharmacists generally suggest using a cream or lotion over the entire body. It is vital to adhere strictly to the given instructions and to notify the pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

The treatment should be repeated after one week. Scabies is highly infectious, but symptoms might not appear for up to eight weeks.

It is imperative for all household members to receive treatment at the same time, regardless of whether they exhibit symptoms. Nonetheless, treatments from pharmacies should not be used on children under two years old; instead, they should see a GP.

More information about scabies is available on the NHS website here.

Whooping cough cases have also skyrocketed, with a threefold increase to an alarming 1,696 reported cases this year, while scabies infections have also risen sharply by 66%, resulting in 5,661 primary and secondary diagnoses. Gwen Nightingale of the Health Foundation has drawn attention to the connection between poverty and the spread of diseases, saying: "Not having enough income to sustain a basic standard of living can have a negative impact on health, through factors like cold, damp homes or an inability to access healthy foods."