The number of reported scabies cases nearly doubled last year, new data has revealed. 

Last year, 51 cases of the disease were reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre - nearly half of which originated in nursing homes. 

By contrast in 2023, there were just 26 cases reported to the HPSC. 

On The Pat Kenny Show, registered advanced nurse practitioner Selene Daly said the figures were “very concerning”. 

“Scabies have been around as long as humans have been around,” she said. 

“Aristotle called it the ‘lice of the flesh’, it was mentioned in the Bible. 

“So, they’ve been around forever.” 

Scabies cause an intense itch which is often worse at night or after a warm shower. You may also have a red, itchy rash or tiny red spots.

It can take up to six weeks after coming into contact with scabies before noticing any symptoms.

Scabies is easy to treat, find out how… pic.twitter.com/wKMm21iFhR

— HSE Ireland (@HSELive) July 11, 2024

Ms Daly said Ireland is not unique in seeing an increase in the number of scabies and it is a trend evident “across Europe”.

“Typically, it has spiked since COVID,” she said. 

“When we had the COVID restrictions, obviously, we weren’t mingling, so people weren’t getting things like scabies. 

“The other thing is, people failed to have treatments. 

“Across the board, if I prescribe a treatment for someone topically, there’s a 70% chance they’re not going to actually use that properly.”

The March issue of Epi Insight is out now and features a variety of interesting articles like:

🦠Five years of COVID-19 in Ireland
👥Increase in scabies outbreaks
🧠Increase in cases of Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD)

Read the full issue here👉https://t.co/GpcIQuOuPG pic.twitter.com/yyMc5earCc

— HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) (@hpscireland) March 5, 2025

For anyone who does have scabies, Ms Daly said that treatment is relatively simple. 

 “The treatment we use is something called Lyclear,” she said. 

“It comes in a 30 gram tube - that’s the first really important thing. 

“You have to get enough topical treatment to cover your entire body - every centimetre of your skin, from your neck right down. 

“So, make sure that you get enough from your pharmacy to cover your entire body.” 

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

Because scabies is such an infectious disease, Ms Daly added that everyone else in the household should get treated as well. 

“This is the first and only time a nurse will tell you, ‘Don’t wash your hands’,” she said. 

“So, when you put the treatment on before you go to bed, cover [your body] and cover your hands and underneath your fingernails.

“Cut your nails short and put the treatment underneath the fingernails as well. 

“Remember, you’re scratching and the scabies can go underneath your nails.” 

Afterwards, you should wash your bedding in case any of the mites have burrowed down into the sheets. 

Main image: Scabies. Picture by: Alamy.com