Unichem Pharmacy Springvale owner Melina Holmes said there was \u201ca lot\u201d of scabies circulating in Whanganui.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been ongoing for over 12 months now,\u201d Holmes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt never used to be a problem, but it clearly is in Whanganui at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rest homes and early childhood centres were particularly affected, she said.<\/p>\n
Gonville Health nurse and triage co-ordinator Tracey Linton noticed a \u201cmassive\u201d increase in scabies affecting families, particularly in more crowded households.<\/p>\n
She said it had been spreading through the community and could potentially lead to an outbreak.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ve got a house with extended family living there as well, not everyone gets treated the same. But with scabies, everybody has to be treated the same,<\/p>\n
Because they were legally unable to prescribe for non-patients, some family members did not receive professional treatment, and families\u2019 supplies ran out before the seventh day, when treatment should be repeated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d have a day of scabies. Every second, third person calling. And it is, a lot of the time, the same people.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a busy clinic, they could not keep up with the number of patients needing appointments for treatment.<\/p>\n
The cost of hot-washing infected clothes and bedding discouraged some families from completing the treatment, Linton said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWashing all those blankets and towels would be an absolute nightmare, especially now when it\u2019s raining, cold and no dryer. So maybe there needs to be something out there to help these families.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a snowball effect.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have definitely, definitely noticed the increase at schools, not just primary but high schools as well. Lots of them are recurring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Families were being \u201cconstantly\u201d reinfected by children at school or family members not included in household treatment.<\/p>\n
Linton said schools should emphasise the importance of following the treatment regimen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we probably need to step it up a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whanganui Regional Health Network primary care pharmacist Sala Tikoimaleya said scabies prescriptions were common in community pharmacies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ones that probably don\u2019t want to go to the medical centres or have problems getting an appointment, they just come in to the pharmacy and buy them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pharmacists were always available to help, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nothing to be ashamed of. Scabies is very common and it\u2019s treatable. Don\u2019t just treat the itch, treat the whole household.\u201d<\/p>\n
Diagnosing scabies<\/p>\n
An itchy rash usually develops between a few days and six weeks after catching scabies. The arms, legs and trunk are usually most affected, and itching is worse at night or after a hot wash.<\/p>\n
The rash commonly appears between the fingers and toes, around the wrists, in the groin, around the nipples and under the armpits. Only young children and infants are affected on the face or scalp.<\/p>\n