UK doctors are warning people to avoid people when seeking care if they have “tiny red dots” on their hands and to not ignore them.
With a 100 percent rise in the prevalence of another nasty illness that is making people feel ill and leading them to suffer from horrible symptoms including headaches, limb aches, and diarrhea, it is the most recent health warning to be issued in the UK in recent weeks.
What are British doctors cautioning about?
The cause is scabies, and medical professionals are warning people about its spread across the UK.
In particular, outbreaks are taking place in northern England, where doctors are reporting a rise in cases.
Scabies can be extremely itchy and unpleasant, but it’s not a serious condition, according to Professor Kamila Hawthorne, head of the Royal College of GPs.
“It can worsen pre-existing skin conditions or spread and raise a patient’s risk of complications, including secondary skin infections, if left untreated.”
What are the signs and symptoms of scabies?
Scabies is a contagious disease caused by mites that burrow under your skin.
They burrow through the layers of your skin to deposit eggs that are visible to the naked eye.
It is easily shared by personal contact between people, and the rashes caused by mites can spread to other parts of the body.
A university student told the BBC that she started to get “little red dots” around her hands and wrists.
How does one contract scabies?
Due to their high rates of social interaction, schools and young adults are especially vulnerable to scabies.
It can also be identified if you have multiple sexual partners because of how intimate you’re becoming with them in this kind of setting.
Sharing bedding or clothes is another easy way to get it.
If you get scabies, you should wash all of your clothes and bedding in 60 degree Celsius water.
If it can’t be cleaned at such a high temperature, put it in a bag for three days to get rid of all the mites.
“If you have scabies, don’t hide away.”
Anyone who thinks they might have scabies should get the help they need, according to Professor Hawthorne.
Even if the condition has a “social stigma,” this shouldn’t prevent those who are impacted from receiving the help they might need.
Although it is quite painful, you can purchase lotions and creams to lessen the discomfort. Furthermore, the infections can result in something more dangerous if the bites get worse.
“Given the social stigma associated with the condition, we understand that patients may be reluctant to seek treatment; however, it is crucial that they do not disregard their symptoms as this may worsen them and increase the likelihood of spreading the condition to others,” she said.
