A “nightmare” rise in cases of scabies is causing a major public health problem, experts warned today.
Scabies is an intensely itchy and bumpy rash caused by the saliva, eggs and feces of the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei, with symptoms that sometimes last for months.
It is highly contagious and can spread in communal settings such as university buildings, nursing homes, prisons and immigration detention centers.
The number of infections in Britain has doubled in a year and doctors fear that failure to treat the disease quickly due to drug shortages could fuel the outbreak.
Experts also fear that the resurgence of Dickens’ disease could be caused by the parasite becoming resistant to existing medications or by patients not treating their condition properly.
The number of infections in Britain has doubled in a year and doctors fear that failure to treat the disease quickly due to drug shortages could fuel the outbreak. Experts also fear that the resurgence of Dickens’ disease could be caused by the parasite becoming resistant to existing medications or by patients not treating their condition properly. The photo shows an image of a Sarcoptes scabiei mite, which causes the contagious skin infection scabies
The latest surveillance data from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) shows there were three cases per 100,000 people in November, double the seasonal average.
In the week starting 27 November, 27,484 cases from 500 GP practices in England and Wales were recorded based on surveillance results.
In comparison, only 56 cases were recorded in the same week in 2021, while in 2022, 94 cases were recorded in that week.
Professor Mabs Chowdhury, chairman of the British Association of Dermatologists, told MailOnline: “Scabies is a common but highly contagious skin disease.”
“The ease with which the disease spreads, especially in community settings such as nursing homes and college dormitories, is alarming given the lack of effective treatments.”
“We have called on regulators such as the MHRA and the government to provide manufacturers and suppliers with the necessary support to reduce production bottlenecks.”
“While we have been told that more permethrin and malathion will be available early in the new year, we must ensure that adequate supplies of effective treatments are maintained.”
He said: “There is very little research into cases of canker sores and people are often embarrassed to talk about it.”
“Given social care challenges and treatment shortages, health authorities must plan for healthcare outbreaks.”
He added: “The public health calculus is not particularly complicated: scabies spreads easily, and if people don’t get treatment, the disease will continue to spread.”
NHS guidelines recommend using permethrin or malathion cream, which should be rubbed all over the body, including under the nails.
It should be kept for a maximum of 24 hours and repeated after a week.
Alternatively, there is evidence that ivermectin – taken in tablet form – is safe and equally effective.
European regulators recommend it in two doses, two weeks apart, for normal scabies. In more severe cases, it can be used in addition to the ice.
However, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), a prescription in the UK can only be issued by a specialist – usually a dermatologist – in severe cases or to treat an outbreak.
But in September, the Ministry of Health issued a warning that permethrin was in short supply and that malathion liquid was also unavailable.
Shares are thought to be hit by an increase in demand for scabies treatments in both the UK and Europe, as well as a rise in raw material costs.
A study published today by the British Association of Dermatologists, commissioned by The Guardian, shows that eight out of nine regional representatives reported an increase in scabies in their area last year.
Seven of the nine reported permethrin and malathion deficiencies.
Dermatologists who spoke to The Guardian said the situation had become an “absolute nightmare”.
But experts also warned that the increase in infections may be due in part to the inability to properly treat the disease, leading to “pseudo-resistance.”
Claire Fuller, co-founder of the Scabies Alliance, told The Times that resistance could arise from people who repeatedly fail to treat the condition properly if they are not properly educated.
Last month, four studios at the University of the Arts in London’s Central Saint Martins (pictured) were forced to close before the Christmas deadline due to blight. At least two cases were reported among students, forcing the university to organize a deep cleaning of the studios and textile room
Cases of anthrax also vary significantly across the country, top doctors said today, with the incidence in the north of England “more pronounced” than in the rest of the country.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the RCGP, told MailOnline: “Since July, GPs have recorded an increasing number of scabies cases, consistently above the five-year average and seasonal norms.”
“This is particularly pronounced in the north of England.”
She added: “When prescribed medicines are unavailable or in short supply, this is a concern for GPs, pharmacists and patients alike.”
“GPs and pharmacists are already under enormous pressure to care for their patients during the peak season and any shortage of medicines, even temporarily, will make the situation worse.”
Guidelines in the UK recommend the use of permethrin or malathion cream, which should be rubbed all over the body, including under the nails. Alternatively, there is evidence that ivermectin – taken in tablet form – is safe and equally effective
Although scabies is a common condition, it often goes undiagnosed because the rash can be confused with a variety of other skin conditions. This increases the risk that an infected person will spread the disease to others.
It occurs mainly through sharing clothes or bed linen, but also through skin contact, such as during sex.
Last month, scabies forced four studios at the University of the Arts in London’s Central Saint Martins to close before Christmas.
At least two cases have been reported among students at the university forced to organize a thorough cleaning in the studios and dust room.
Meanwhile, several migrants who moved to a former RAF site near Braintree, Essex, were diagnosed with scabies in September.
The itchy rash is caused by mites burrowing under the skin to lay eggs, the presence of eggs and the animal’s feces.
This egg laying may look like a line with a point on one side before it develops into a rash.
Although highly contagious, the most obvious sign, the rash, can take up to eight weeks to appear, meaning people can unknowingly spread the disease to others.
The rash usually spreads to the whole body, except for the head.
Scabies is incurable without treatment and people should avoid work or school until they receive medication, experts say.
Although scabies themselves are not dangerous, scratching the rash can lead to secondary bacterial infections of the skin.
People with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, are susceptible to hyperinfections called scabies.
The UKHSA notes that an estimated one in fifty long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, will be affected by a scabies outbreak each year.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
