Scabies

[ItchyandScratchiness]

So I've just been diagnosed with scabies... not on my genitals thank goodness, it's on my upper body only. For weeks I thought I was allergic to something.

I've done the Permethrin cream treatment and wow, already, what a relief. It has to be repeated in one weeks time. I now have to sort all my bedding, soft furnishings, nuke the house basically.

I know I caught it from my ex as he was constantly itching in the 4 or 5 months before we split up. It was on his leg, his arms, his chest. The GP said it was something else and gave him a cream for his leg, an antibiotic, which seemed to have some effect. But the rash remained elsewhere and he'd be so itchy at night. I never clicked and thought it was an allergy and he changed his detergents.

So I let him know the other day that I had it and that he best get checked out, that it sounded as if he had had it for some time and the only place I could have possibly caught it was from prolonged skin to skin contact with him. Also given that the mites can also get left in clothing, bedding, towels etc. Also on furniture. No apology. But he said he'd call the doctor today and has been off work all day. I heard nothing from him and have just chased him. He said he was too busy.

Am I right to be pissed off? I suppose all told his lack of care in certain areas of our brief relationship made me end it and I shouldn't be surprised. But just not bothering and zero apology... Grrrr

Suppose this is more of a rant than anything else....

I had it on my hands last year. I’m not sure how I caught it because I didn’t have prolonged contact with anyone. It’s not an STD & he didn’t give it you intentionally. There’s also no guarantee it was him that transmitted it. I’m not sure what you’d be annoyed for?

I got it from dirty bed in uni accommodation, it's not sexually transmitted itchy as h3ck tho. I was painted yellow and it went thank god

Sorry you're going through this OP!!!

It's put me right off booking some time away next week!

Guess I'm glad to save the money!

They can be really difficult to get rid of once they've infected your house. Wash/treat everything! Make sure to do the second treatment on you with permethrin (first only gets the living ones not their eggs so second treatment times for when they'll have hatched but not laid their own eggs).

It’s really important to do the second treatment exactly as advised, and to treat close contacts at the same time if recommended, to avoid reinfection. Bedding, towels, and clothing used recently usually just need a hot wash and hot dry or sealed storage for a few days depending on guidance.

Yes, thank you. The doctor and the pharmacist both said exactly the same. I did the second treatment last night and went through the whole rigamarole of vacuuming the chair, mattress, changing the bed sheets etc etc etc ad infinitum.

I'm annoyed because he's done exactly nothing about it since I told him over one week ago. He has very close contact with grandchildren and other offspring and could pass it onto them/reinfect them, if he in fact originally caught it from them, which I suspect he did.

I asked him had he been to the GP and he said he had not had time, which is a load of rubbish. It was definitely from him as he had a rash in multiple locations on his body that would wake him during the night, but we both assumed allergy and I believe his GP misdiagnosed him. I was trying to prevent him from passing it onto his close family, especially his small grandchildren, but his attitude is that he has no shits to give. He works immediately next to the GP surgery as well.

But, again, it speaks volumes about him being a selfish shit and makes me realise I absolutely did the right thing when I ended it.

DS pick d it up in Prague last year from a hostel, apparently is endemic in the Czech Republic. One of the biggest problems is that bedding needs to be washed at 60deg and above. Most hotels and hostels now pride themselves on their eco credentials which include washing linen at low temps to save the earth. This means that infected linen is being washed and stored with all linen so contamination is likely to be widespread.

DS has had a major struggle with scabies. Despite a full decontamination it took 6 months of regular treatment to eradicate it. He is very clean ( for a student) and now washes everything at 60deg. I think what broke the back of it was leaving his room at uni untouched over Xmas. After 4 weeks the mites had all died.

Unfortunately the itch seriously affected his mental health. He had extensive lesions and couldn’t attend lectures because he was embarrassed by the itching. The thought of trying to get through an hour without being able to scratch meant he didn’t go. He was also acutely aware of passing it to others so became a bit agoraphobic. Was reluctant to engage with anyone outside of his flat and became quite depressed. He also had chronic insomnia because the itch prevented him from getting quality sleep.

He’s much better now. Has finally got rid of the mites and the itching. Has embarked on a new relationship, without fear of passing it on ( something that was stopping him in past).

The permethrin is not particularly effective, research suggests that the mites are becoming resistant to it. DS found that Derbac has been much more effective and easier to apply. You can get a prescription for Ivermectin if the mites persist and if all else fails you could try benzyl benzoate available on Amazon. It has to be mixed with a carrier oil such as almond oil.

It’s difficult dealing with Scabies. The initial infection can occur 6-8wks before the itch starts so you can pick it up from a partner well before they show any symptoms. The insidious onset means that it’s often misdiagnosed for months. The current practice in GP surferues to do phone consults or to ask you to send photos means that diagnosis is often delayed. I suspect that because fewer face to face appointments are carried out is why it is at epidemic levels in unis. The students are all healthy and access to a GP is often difficult. If the lesions are not genital they wouldn’t think of attending an std clinic so it goes undiagnosed and infect others.

DS was diagnosed before he returned to uni so had eradicated the mites before he left for uni. Unfortunately he had a widespread rash at that point and the itch can literally go on for months.

I now have spare bottles of Derbac ready to instantly treat any of the family who have slept in a hotel or hostel or returned from uni. We also wash all clothing and bedding entering the house after it has been left in the garage seal in plastic bags for a week. I really don’t want to go through that hell again.

Oh i feel your pain (or itch). I caught it years and years ago (17) in my first job in a nursing home, dr thought it was dermatitis at first and was treating me for that, weeks later and many sleepless itchy nights i was diagnosed with scabies. Never again!! Horrible wee itchy fuckers.