Doctors have warned of a “nightmare” surge in Victorian disease across the UK. Scabies cases are on the rise amid an acute shortage of treatments.
The itchy skin condition is triggered by an infestation of tiny mites. Considered to be highly contagious, scabies then leads to itchy skin and raised rashes. Worryingly, it can spread quickly through close skin contact.
At the moment, scabies is treated by permethrin or malathion in the UK. However, a combination of supply chain problems, the Ukraine war and rise in costs have made it harder to ship these drugs. This has resulted in months-long shortages of both.
Doctors are now scrambling for the medication as areas in the north of England saw a concerning double in reported scabies cases in November. The shortage means some patients are only left with expensive alternatives.
According to experts, the situation poses a major public health threat. Professor Mabs Chowdhury, the president of the British Association of Dermatologists, told The Guardian this is “something that urgently needs more attention”.
Professor Chowdhury added: “Unfortunately, the consequences of treatment shortages are proving easy to ignore. There is very limited tracking of scabies cases and people are often embarrassed to talk about it.”
The expert explained that the outbreak is of “major concern” in care homes and universities. “If even one person isn’t treated completely, everyone can be reinfected,” he added.
The winter months also fueled a surge in reports of scabies, as more people flock indoors and stay at home together. A survey by the British Association of Dermatologists, commissioned by the Guardian, revealed eight of nine regional representatives saw a rise in scabies in their area this year.
Furthermore, seven of nine also reported shortages of treatment drugs. Meanwhile, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, the chair of the Royal College of GPs, stressed the importance of quick treatment.
She said: “Since July, GPs have seen a growing rate of scabies presentations – at a consistently higher level than the five-year average and the seasonal norm. When any prescribed medication is unavailable, or in short supply, it is worrying for GPs, pharmacists and patients alike.”
The condition is very infectious, but it can take up to eight weeks for the rash to appear. The NHS explains that the spots may look red, but they are more difficult to see on brown or black skin.
Once you have the tell-tale rash, a pharmacist will recommend a cream or lotion that you apply over your whole body. You’ll need to repeat the treatment one week later.
Everyone in your home will need to be treated at the same time, even if they do not have symptoms. The health service adds that anyone you’ve had sexual contact with in the past eight weeks should also be treated, despite scabies not being a sexually transmitted infection.
