Doctors in England have issued an urgent warning to not ignore scabies symptoms, especially itchy rashes, after a surge in cases.
The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) said that the condition is a highly infectious skin contagion caused by mites, which burrow under the skin to lay eggs and is spread through close physical contact, bedding and clothes.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, RCGP chairwoman, said while incidences were infrequent, the number of GP diagnoses was ‘above the five-year average and rising, with the north of England seeing a spike in cases’.
‘If not properly treated, it can spread and increase a patient’s risk of complications, such as secondary skin infections or make existing skin conditions worse,’ she said.
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Latest NHS figures revealed that about 3,689 cases were diagnosed in hospitals in England in the year to April, up from 2,128 the previous year. According to the NHS, the scabies spots may appear red. These are more difficult to see on brown or black skin, but can be felt because they are itchy.
However, the RCGP said that stigma attached to the condition could prevent people from seeking treatment. Professor Hawthorne said: ‘We recognise that patients may be apprehensive to seek treatment given the social stigma that surrounds the condition, but it is important that they don’t ignore their symptoms as this could lead to them getting worse and risks transmitting the condition to other people.’
To effectively prevent the spread, doctors across the UK have urged all affected parties to use prescribed treatments in unison, including creams or lotions, and stressed the need for washing clothes and bedding at high temperatures.