For one British mom, scabies is a battle she'll never forget – or wish upon her worst enemy. After a September start with telltale spots on her body, the itchy rash soon spread to her children's bodies and required multiple treatments, including renting a caravan to quarantine the family. The mother describes her experience as "hell," but acknowledges that scabies has affected many more people.
The UK is seeing an alarming rise in scabies cases, with annual increases since 2021 and a significant spike in 2023. This growth has left doctors scratching their heads, while social media reveals numerous desperate pleas for help from those struggling to cope.
Experts point to supply chain issues during the pandemic as one possible factor contributing to the rise, although there is no clear explanation. Dr Donald Grant believes that the frequent stock shortages may have led to a "ping-pong" effect where individuals are continuously reinfested within households or close groups of friends.
The condition, caused by microscopic mites, can be mistaken for an STI due to its prevalence in skin creases like the groin. However, it is essential to seek treatment promptly and avoid sharing bedding, clothing, and towels until all household members have been treated.
Young people are disproportionately affected, with a significant increase in scabies diagnoses among those aged 20-24. Dr Lea Solman notes that shame around scabies can be a significant obstacle to controlling outbreaks, as it deters people from seeking help quickly and having difficult conversations about treatment.
A recent outbreak has been linked to John, a 20-year-old who contracted the condition after starting a new relationship with someone whose house had recently suffered an outbreak. His symptoms are severe, leaving him with scarring and taking a significant toll on his mental health and self-esteem.
Professor Tess McPherson emphasizes that while complete eradication is impossible, scrupulous treatment should be taken seriously to prevent complications like infections in the skin, which can lead to renal disease.
As scabies continues to plague communities, especially among young people living in communal settings, it's essential for healthcare providers and social media platforms to raise awareness about this often- overlooked but debilitating condition.
The UK is seeing an alarming rise in scabies cases, with annual increases since 2021 and a significant spike in 2023. This growth has left doctors scratching their heads, while social media reveals numerous desperate pleas for help from those struggling to cope.
Experts point to supply chain issues during the pandemic as one possible factor contributing to the rise, although there is no clear explanation. Dr Donald Grant believes that the frequent stock shortages may have led to a "ping-pong" effect where individuals are continuously reinfested within households or close groups of friends.
The condition, caused by microscopic mites, can be mistaken for an STI due to its prevalence in skin creases like the groin. However, it is essential to seek treatment promptly and avoid sharing bedding, clothing, and towels until all household members have been treated.
Young people are disproportionately affected, with a significant increase in scabies diagnoses among those aged 20-24. Dr Lea Solman notes that shame around scabies can be a significant obstacle to controlling outbreaks, as it deters people from seeking help quickly and having difficult conversations about treatment.
A recent outbreak has been linked to John, a 20-year-old who contracted the condition after starting a new relationship with someone whose house had recently suffered an outbreak. His symptoms are severe, leaving him with scarring and taking a significant toll on his mental health and self-esteem.
Professor Tess McPherson emphasizes that while complete eradication is impossible, scrupulous treatment should be taken seriously to prevent complications like infections in the skin, which can lead to renal disease.
As scabies continues to plague communities, especially among young people living in communal settings, it's essential for healthcare providers and social media platforms to raise awareness about this often- overlooked but debilitating condition.
I feel so bad for all those people struggling with scabies 
the thought of those itchy spots spreading to the whole family and having to quarantine is literally hellish 
I've seen how quickly social media can spread desperation, it's like a ping-pong effect of re-infestation within households. Young people are really suffering here, shame around scabies is real and needs to be addressed 
we need more awareness about this condition, not just for treatment but also for mental health support. Can't imagine living with the fear of getting scabies all over again... 
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. And can we pls get healthcare providers & social media platforms 2 step up & help share the word? 
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. I've seen so many posts on social media about scabies, and it's always like "how did you get it?" or "what did you do wrong?" like it's not a big deal 
. But it can be devastating, especially when you have to deal with the stigma of having it 
. It's not just about treating the symptoms, it's about addressing the root cause of the problem 
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. We gotta prioritize mental health & self-care, especially for young folks who r bein hit hard by this outbreak 
. It's crazy how something that's basically just a bug infestation can be so mentally draining. I mean, imagine having to quarantine your whole family in a caravan 
and dealing with those awful itchy rashes 
. And the fact that young people are getting hit hard is super concerning - all they're worried about is starting their new lives or relationships, not scabies 
. We need more awareness and support for these cases ASAP! 
. I feel for those families who had to quarantine themselves, like the mom who rented a caravan 
. The stats on young people being disproportionately affected is also alarming - it's not just physical health we need to worry about, but mental too 
. Healthcare providers and social media should really step up their awareness efforts so we can break this cycle 
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, like what's going on with our supply chains? 
they need to get the word out about how to prevent it and treat it, 'cause shame is a major thing 
, anyone else been there? 
we need more awareness and support for ppl who are suffering from this so they dont feel like they're alone 
, like I know it's a real thing and all but seriously who wants an itchy rash 
. it's wild how young people are getting affected, 20-24 is, like, super hard to diagnose 
. Prof Tess McPherson is right tho, scrupulous treatment is key 
, we need to step up our awareness game and not make this condition look so sketchy 
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And yeah, quarantine in a caravan sounds like the ultimate fun date 
. On a more serious note, it's concerning that there's still no clear explanation for the rise in cases... supply chain issues seem like a pretty obvious culprit, but I guess we'll never know 
. The whole 'shame' thing around scabies is really interesting - can you imagine being too embarrassed to talk to your BFFs about getting treated? 
. Anyway, hope John gets better soon... poor guy's got some serious scars (literally and emotionally) 
i think it would help if more people talked openly about it without the shame factor 
hope that young people like john can get the treatment they need ASAP 
It's like, I get it, scabies is bad news, but is there no better solution than quarantine? 
. Like, how can they even have to deal with this stuff on top of everything else they're going through in life? It's just not fair 
. We need to make sure people know that it's not something to be ashamed of, and that seeking help is the first step towards getting rid of it. And maybe, just maybe, we can get our healthcare system to prioritize treatments that actually work 
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. It's crazy how one tiny mite can cause so much stress and discomfort. I think the fact that young people are getting hit hard is really telling - it's not just about personal hygiene, but also about trust issues in relationships 
. The idea of "ping-pong" effects is wild, though... does anyone know if there's any research on how to break the cycle? 
. Social media should be blowing up with awareness, not just desperate pleas for help... let's get this word out! 