DOCTORS have reported a “nightmare” rise in a nasty Victorian disease across the UK – these are the symptoms to watch out for.
Scabies is a skin condition caused by an infestation of tiny mites, and the lack of treatment has caused fear among medical professionals.
2
It spreads rapidly through close skin contact and is currently treated with permethrin or malathionCredit: Getty
2
The lack of treatment has led to some patients looking for expensive alternatives at ‘inflated prices’ online Credit: Alamy
The highly contagious condition causes itchy skin, especially at night, and raised rashes.
It spreads rapidly through close skin contact and is currently treated with permethrin or malathion.
However, the UK is facing supply issues to deliver these drugs following the Ukraine war and rising costs.
As reported by the Guardian, dermatologists and GPs are now scrambling for a cure as areas in the north of England saw a worrying double the number of reported cases of scabies in November.
The shortage has led some patients to search for expensive alternatives to “inflated prices” online.
Professor Mabs Chowdhury, president of the British Association of Dermatologists, told the Guardian this was “something that urgently needs more attention”.
“Unfortunately, it has proven easy to ignore the consequences of a lack of treatment,” he said.
“There is very limited follow-up of scabies cases and people are often embarrassed to talk about it.”
The professor said the outbreak was of “great concern” in nursing homes and universities, making it difficult to stop the spread of infection.
“If even one person is not fully treated, everyone can become infected again,” he added.
The winter months also lead to a spike in applications, with more people staying at home together.
Research from a British Association of Dermatologists survey, commissioned by the Guardian, found that eight out of nine regional representatives reported an increase in scabies in their area this year – with seven out of nine also reporting a shortage of treatment.
A concerned dermatologist in the North East said this would likely result in “increased spread of infection” and “strain on demand”.
Meanwhile, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said that although scabies in itself is not a serious condition – it can make an existing skin condition worse.
She said: “It can also affect the patient’s quality of life, so prompt treatment is important.
“Since July, general practitioners have been recording a growing rate of scabies – at a consistently higher level than the five-year average and the seasonal norm.
“When any prescribed medicine is unavailable or unavailable, it is a concern for GPs, pharmacists and patients.”
‘We must reduce any stigma’
Another problem facing the treatment of scabies is the stigma surrounding the condition.
dr. Tess McPherson, president of the British Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology, warned: “We need to reduce any stigma associated with scabies so that people seek treatment when needed.”
The doctor explained that her son had been treated for it as a student.
Although Dr McPherson was “surprised”, she said it was not shocking given that “cases of scabies in children and young people are being seen more regularly”.
How to treat scabies
Although scabies is usually not a serious condition, it is important that patients are treated.
The condition is highly contagious, but it can take up to eight weeks for the rash to appear.
According to the NHS website, your pharmacist will recommend a cream or lotion that you apply all over your body.
You will have to repeat the treatment a week later.
Everyone in your home must be treated at the same time, even if they have no symptoms.
Although scabies is not a sexually transmitted infection, anyone with whom you have had sexual contact in the past 8 weeks should be treated.
What are the symptoms of scabies?
- intense itching, especially at night
- raised rash or spots
The spots may appear red.
They are harder to see on dark skin, but you should be able to feel them.
A scabies rash (a cluster of spots) usually spreads over the whole body, except for the head.
However, older people, young children and those with weakened immune systems can develop a rash on the head and neck.
Source: NHS
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education