The infection is very contagious and spreads very quickly, health experts warn
A scabies rash is caused by tiny mites burrowing into the skin(Image: Getty Images)
A spike in cases of a once-common Victorian skin infection has sparked concern among parents after a number of scabies cases have been reported in schools.
South Devon College in Torbay, Devon confirmed it had been notified of seven cases among its students, with parents receiving an email stating the infections had been formally diagnosed by health professionals.
Despite the rise in cases, officials have stressed there is no cause for alarm. Torbay Council said there had been a “small number” of cases in the area, but said no schools in Devon or Torbay had been forced to close, The Mirror reports.
Lincoln Sargeant, Director of Public Health at Torbay Council: “We are aware of a small number of scabies cases in the area, but scabies is not usually a serious condition that needs to be reported to health authorities. It usually only spreads after skin to skin contact in close household type settings.
“No schools in Torbay have closed because of this. Individual schools are communicating directly with parents and carers, and we ask families to speak to their child’s school with any concerns.
“For accurate information on scabies, including symptoms and treatment, please refer to official NHS advice at www.nhs.uk/conditions/scabies or speak to a GP or pharmacist.”
The main symptoms of scabies are intense itching and a rash(Image: Getty Images)
Once rampant in the Victorian times, scabies is a skin infection caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. It leads to an intensely itchy rash as the tiny parasites burrow into the skin and spreads through prolonged close contact.
The rash is easily mistaken for eczema or other common skin conditions, meaning some people delay seeking treatment. It can also be caught asymptomatically, further increasing the risk of spreading.
Dr Firas Al-Niaimi, a London-based consultant dermatologist, told The Sun: “Scabies is very contagious and spreads very quickly, so it needs to be caught early to limit infections.”
According to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data, scabies diagnoses have jumped from around 1,400 in 2022 to nearly 4,900 in 2024.
Scabies symptoms typically appear up to eight weeks after infection. The NHS says the rash usually spreads across the whole body, apart from the head and neck, often affecting skin between the fingers, around the wrists, under the arms, and around the waist, groin and bottom.
However, older people and young children may develop a rash on their head, neck, palms and soles of their feet, the NHS says. The rash may also be more difficult to see on brown or black skin.
While scabies is not usually a serious condition, it does need to be treated – and everyone in your home needs to be treated at the same time, even if they don’t have symptoms.