Scabies cases are increasing in this country partly due to the fixation with energy saving and low temperature washes. Washing machines have programmes for cold water washes or 20 or 30 degrees economy washes. To kill scabies mites bedding, towels and clothes have to be washed in very hot water, at least 60 degrees if not boil washed, followed by tumble drying on a high heat setting. And obviously the person has to be treated medically.
A lot of doctors in this country are unfamiliar with diagnosing scabies and misdiagnose sufferers with eczema and other related skin conditions. A friend’s daughter who worked in a care home was misdiagnosed with eczema/ psoriasis for weeks before being referred to a dermatologist and correctly treated after skin scrapings were taken.
Scabies ( mange in dogs ) is highly contagious and spread by shared towels, bedding or close physical contact with an infected person. Usually it begins between the fingers, in skin folds, under the arms or at the inner elbow and is intensely itchy.
Recently in the Guardian ( I think that was the paper or the Sunday Times ) it said a large number of the poor people camping by Calais were affected, due to lack of hygiene facilities and basic amenities.
Fleas, scabies and lice are all on the increase nowadays. It seems we are turning the clock back to Victorian Britain !
