There was a surge last year in the number of scabies outbreaks, the Health Service Protection Centre has confirmed.
Scabies is a condition caused by a tiny burrowing bite that digs deep into a person’s skin, causing them to break out in an uncomfortable itch.
It is highly infectious and dermatology nurse practitioner Selene Daly has recently been inundated with queries about it.
“The Health Service Protection Centre, the HSPC, has reported an increase [with] 27 outbreaks in 2023 - compared to only nine in 2022,” she said.
“Unofficially and unscientifically, I’ve never had so many phone calls about scabies in my life.”
Why the sudden surge?
There are several theories why more and more people have contracted the condition - all of which are unconfirmed.
“There is a theory from Britain that there has been a shortage of… the most common type of treatment for scabies,” Ms Daly said.
“Another theory - that hasn’t been fact-checked - is that scabies might be becoming resistant towards topical treatments.
“There’s nothing to say it has yet.”
Scabies is a global disease and can be picked up by a person of any age.
The signs of scabies include intensely itchy skin, a rash or spots.
It is often transmitted through sexual contact but any type of prolonged skin contact, such as hugging, can pass it on as well.
Scabies is a skin condition caused by a tiny mite that gets under the skin and lays eggs. It is:
➡️very common
➡️passed by skin-to-skin or sexual contact with a person who has scabies
➡️easily spread - so it should be treated quickly
➡️not usually a serious condition
For more… pic.twitter.com/LKE6C3j0PP— HSE Ireland (@HSELive) October 27, 2023
“So, a quick handshake shouldn’t mean that you get scabies,” Ms Daly said.
“It’s prolonged skin to skin contact.
“Have you been in a playground with children? They’re all over each other, so that’s how children get head lice quite easily.
“Same with teens, hyperactive teens are all over each other and can pass on scabies to each other.”
'Very common'
As well as physical discomfort, a person with scabies sometimes suffers from mental health problems as well.
“People suffer from depression because they’re embarrassed,” Ms Daly said.
“They feel that they’re dirty, that they’ve caused this somehow - and there’s no need to be embarrassed.
“This is very common and is affecting a lot of people at the moment.”
If you think you have scabies, you can ask a pharmacist for a lotion or cream to put on your skin. This does not require a prescription and the mites will be killed off within a couple of weeks.
Main image: Scabies. Picture by: Alamy.com
