A shortage of some treatments is contributing to a rise of scabies cases in Ireland.

Scabies is an infestation of the skin by mites, which burrow into the upper layer and lays its eggs.

The most common symptoms are intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash.

The scabies mite is spread by direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies.‌

The trend is in line with a reported increase in cases in the UK.

Dr Scott Walkin, Irish College of General Practitioners Clinical Lead for Infection Control, told Moncrieff a rash can take two weeks to appear.

"Scabies is caused by a little mite and it tends to burrow in under the skin," he said.

"Once somebody's been infested with it, usually two weeks later, they'll start to get really itchy.

"It causes an incredibly itchy, frustrating rash.

"It's transmitted from person-to-person through direct hand contact.

"Shaking hands with somebody wouldn't be enough to transmit it, but relatively short periods of contact - maybe five or 10 minutes - can pass it from one person to another."

'Physical contact'

Dr Walkin said it can also be transmitted through bedding, clothing or towels.

"The data that are available indicate across Europe, and in the UK, it is increasing - particularly in the late teenage years or people in their 20s," he said.

"It may well be that people are in physical contact a little bit more... but the data certainly shows that it's increasing".

Dr Walkin said although there is a shortage of some medications, there are others still available.

"Whilst some scabies medications are not available, there are alternatives that are available," he said.

"So, as things stand at the moment, for people that have the infection, there is medication available to manage it".

The scabies rash spreads and turns into tiny red spots. Image: HSE

Dr Walkin said there is one sure sign to look out for.

"One of the real clues is if there are other people that you're in close contact with that are also itchy," he said.

"It tends to cause a rash on the hands and the wrists, and it will cause intense itch that will really drive people crazy.

"Usually the symptoms will force people to go to a doctor and generally it's a relatively easy diagnosis," he added.

Dr Walkin said the treatment needs to involve everybody in an infected household.

More information can be found from the HSE here.

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Main image: A woman scratches her arm, 12-11-19. Image: Tutatama / Alamy