Doctors are urging people not to ignore the symptoms of scabies because of the perceived social stigma attached to having the condition as cases rise in England.
Some 3,689 cases of the highly infectious skin infestation were diagnosed in hospitals in England in the year to April – up from 2,128 in the previous 12 months – a rise of 1,561, or more than half, according to NHS figures.
Scabies is caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin, and lay eggs and can lead to intense itchiness, especially at night, along with a rash, and if left untreated, it can cause serious skin conditions, the NHS said on its website.
The rash can appear anywhere but is commonly found between the fingers and may then spread and turn into tiny spots.
It is passed on through close physical contact, bedding, and clothes and can develop quickly in places where people live closely together, such as universities and care homes, the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) said.
The college is worried that people will delay or even avoid seeking treatment because of the “social stigma” surrounding the infection.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, the RCGP chairwoman, said while incidences remained infrequent, the number of GP diagnoses was “above the five-year average and rising, with the North of England seeing a spike in cases”.
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Professor Hawthorne said scabies can be “very itchy and irritating,” but was not a “serious” condition.
But if it wasn’t treated properly, it could spread and raise the risk of complications, such as “secondary skin infections or make existing skin conditions worse,” she warned.
Treatment can be obtained by visiting a pharmacist who will likely recommend a cream or lotion, most commonly permethrin cream and malathion lotion, that is applied over the whole body, the NHS said.
Despite being highly infectious, it can take up to eight weeks for the rash to appear.
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Adults and children aged five or over can go back to work or school as soon as they have started treatment.
Although the treatment kills the scabies mites quickly, the itching can carry on for a few weeks, the NHS said.
