UK faces scabies surge as skin mites grow resistant to treatment

The Association of Dermatologists has announced that the UK is grappling with a sharp rise in scabies cases, as highly infectious skin mites become increasingly resistant to medication. 

In recent months, the number of scabies infections in the UK has seen a significant uptick, with many standard treatments proving ineffective, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

This has led to a greater potential for the disease to spread within communities. Approximately three out of every thousand Britons — around 200,000 people — are currently infected, with the highest infection rates found among individuals aged 10-19 and the elderly. Scabies spreads through close skin contact with infected individuals, meaning it often affects entire families and residents of nursing homes.

The mites can also survive on bed linens and towels, facilitating further transmission. Symptoms typically emerge three to six weeks after exposure, making early detection challenging. There is a troubling trend: scabies is increasingly becoming resistant to commonly prescribed medications, rendering these treatments nearly useless in many cases.

By Naila Huseynova