SCABIES!

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 !

I think I’ve been insulted !!!

I know somebody who caught scabies in hospital,very common. Nasty thing, not helped by a shortage of medication.

Thank you Woodenspoon, you are very kind.

It's no wonder some posters are afraid to contribute to threads, when the THREAD POLICE are on duty.

Illnesses that had died out in the UK are on the rise. There are multiple reasons for this. Singling out a poster who spoke about shingles is unnecessary. I’ve had shingles and it is bl*****dy painful! Awareness is key. Whatever the illness.

The thread is called SCABIES,! Capitals and exclamation mark. But not a lot about it .
Why not Infections on the rise, ? I know I am being pedantic, but the thread title is misleading

Shingles is not contagious, I know you cannot get shingles from someone else. But you can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles if you have direct contact with fluid from their shingles rash.

So is it ok to mention measles on this thread, but not shingles?

I was curious as to why so many infections appear to be on the rise.
I really must be more careful in future, not to derail a thread.
Mea culpa 😉

To return to the OP: Scabies is caused by a mite, not an infection. It's passed by contact between people - usually children- in much the same way as head lice.

Shingles isn't like other infections- you can't catch it from someone else. If you've had chickenpox as a child, the virus can lie dormant for years and then re-emerge as shingles at a later stage, usually if the body is stressed or immune system poor.
The shingles vaccine is supposed to boost your antibodies to the virus.
If all children were vaccinated against chickenpox, they couldn't develop shingles later.

Until recently, only those over 70 were eligible for vaccination. Now people over sixty five are eligible. What about the younger generation and those who are immunocompromised?
It is a highly serious infection.
Scabies is visible, but shingles is not. By the time you realise you have it, it is often too late to get anti virals.

Why are you making a fuss about my post? It is common for posts on GN to meander.
I will reiterate, the point that I was making is that many infections seem to be on the increase.

Surely shingles can be prevented,, especially in the elderly by vaccination. Scabies is a totally different infection, often caused and passed to others in poor , overcrowded conditions.

JamesandJon33

Why are you all talking about shingles.? The OP is about scabies

...because the fact that there is a rise in various ailments presently was discussed and I nentioned that I was told yesterday shingles is also on the the rise.

Why are you all talking about shingles.? The OP is about scabies

😲
I know it can affect the eyes

Callistemon21

Thanks Marydoll
I've had shingles more than once and it can be very nasty.

My friend nearly lost the sight of his eye because of it, so I am delighted to get the Vaccine!

Thanks Marydoll
I've had shingles more than once and it can be very nasty.

fOUND THE INFO.
Shingrix is a new adjuvanted, non-live recombinant shingles vaccine. Two doses of Shingrix provides more than 90% protection against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of shingles.

Callistemon21

Marydoll

Today I had my shingles vaccine because I am immunocompromised.
The nurse told me this new initiative was rolled out only yesterday in Scotland for those who are immunocompromised, due to the surge in shingles cases.

Is that the inactive vaccine, Marydoll?
My surgery does not seem to offer it, had no clue when I enquired pre-Covid.

I need to check the name, Calli. It seems to be a new one, non live. I explained that I could only have the non live vaccine, but apparently in Scotland (according to the vaccinator) everyone, regardless of immunity) will be now offered this non live one.
I will get another one in the summer.

My GP surgery does not offer it, I was told that NHS Scotland manage it.

I was most impressed, when the vaccinator was able to tell me ever vaccination (including 'flu) I had received since the beginning of the pandemic.

DH had the non live shingles vaccine. He is a cancer patient and had been on chemo. The surgery had to order the non live vaccine for him.

Marydoll

Today I had my shingles vaccine because I am immunocompromised.
The nurse told me this new initiative was rolled out only yesterday in Scotland for those who are immunocompromised, due to the surge in shingles cases.

Is that the inactive vaccine, Marydoll?
My surgery does not seem to offer it, had no clue when I enquired pre-Covid.

I read in the news that malnutrition and rickets are also being found in the community and I took note of measles being rife in Birmingham because my daughter lives near there. The covid interruption in health care is beginning to show.

We had it at school once. DH was not impressed when I came home with a large tube of something that both of us had to cover ourselves in.

Scabies are horrible. I've had them twice. I've also have head lice and worms. (The joys of working with small children).

I've read that measles is also on the increase due to parents not having their children vaccinated with the MMR.

Scabies always been around.. One way of getting rid of it, use Anti nit hair lotion, works.

A number of children have missed out on vaccinations due to clinics being suspended during Covid and then finding it difficult to make appointments because so many doctors no longer provide them at their surgery. Two of my GC have been affected by this.

My GD was away with strep throat when one set of vax were done at school (they’d had no prior notice this was to happen) but no one would give her the jab at a later date. They all passed the buck, school said it was the Dr’s responsibility, Dr said it was a clinic’s responsibility, clinic said it was down to the school to arrange it.

Then in some areas language problems mean parents don’t understand what’s required or if they miss an appt don’t know how to rearrange. Some folk of certain ethnicities are wary of vaccinations due to historical wrongs. It’s a complex story.