People are being told not to ignore an itchy rash, with GPs in England reporting a spike in scabies - the highly infectious skin infestation. The condition is caused by a mite which burrows under the skin to lay eggs and is spread through close physical contact, bedding and clothes. It can spread quickly in places where people live closely together, such as universities and care homes, the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) said.
However, "social stigma" prevented people coming forward, it said. Prof Kamila Hawthorne, RCGP chairwoman, said while incidences remained infrequent, the number of GP diagnoses was "above the five-year average and rising, with the north of England seeing a spike in cases". "While not a serious condition, scabies can be very itchy and irritating," she said.
"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." Some 3,689 cases were diagnosed in hospitals in England in the year to April – up from 2,128 the previous year, according to NHS figures. The BBC has heard from people at five universities around the country, who spoke of multiple cases arising "out of nowhere" and whole houses having scabies.
One student said BBC "tiny red dots" along his wrist had begun spreading. "One of my housemates came out to the house that she had scabies at the time as well. So then I was like, 'Okay, so do I'," he added.
Another student told us he had been trying t.