Is scabies an increasing problem in the UK, and how should the UK Health Security Agency and sexual health services respond?

Scabies, an itchy skin condition caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, affects millions of people worldwide.1 Sexual transmission can occur, but most spread is direct skin-to-skin contact and rarely fomite transmission. Children, refugees, care home, hostel and prison residents and those living in poorer socioeconomic settings are most at risk.1 2 Are rates of scabies rising in the UK? In February 2023, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) alerted members to reports of an increase in scabies and apparent treatment-resistant cases in Southern England. There has been a concurrent increase in bacterial sexually transmitted infections, so a rise in sexually transmitted scabies was not unexpected.3 UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) conducts surveillance of scabies through GUMCAD and outbreak reports but no data are collected from primary care or dermatology services. What is the routine management of scabies?...
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Tags: BASHH column Source Type: research