According to figures from the GGDs and knowledge center Nivel, scabies has been spreading at a rapid pace in recent weeks. In the Groningen region, the number of patients rose from 36 to 66 per 100,000 inhabitants in three weeks. In the Amsterdam region it is already 75 per 100,000 inhabitants, where three weeks ago it was still 52. In the Gooi and Vechtstreek it rose even faster: from 52 to 85.
The upward trend can be clearly seen in this graph from Nivel:
The skin condition is mainly circulating among young people and students, according to the figures. Scabies, as scabies is officially called, is on the rise, especially in the age group 15 to 24.
Treat at the same time
The great difficulty in the treatment of scabies is that, to be successful, groups of patients must actually be treated at the same time. It is therefore easier to treat scabies in an organized manner within a family than, for example, in a student house, where residents are sometimes at home and sometimes not. This also applies to blended families or families with children living away from home.
What is scabies and how do you get rid of it?
Scabies, officially called scabies, is caused by scabies mites, small critters that look like spiders. They dig tunnels in your skin and lay eggs there. Due to an allergic reaction of the skin you get (especially at night) enormous itching. It is harmless, but very annoying and contagious.
You contract it through prolonged skin contact, so especially from people with whom you have sex or with whom you live in a house.
The GP assesses your complaints and usually prescribes permethrin cream. You have to rub it all in. You should also thoroughly wash your clothes, bedding and towels from the past three days.
Source: Home doctor (see the site for more info)
Elleke Leclercq, nurse at the GGD Zuid-Limburg, saw many patients struggling to get scabies under control and therefore developed the Step-by-step plan for tackling scabies.
Blended families and students
This plan describes exactly what patients should do, and when. All healthcare professionals involved – general practitioners, dermatologists and GGDs – can spread it among patients and those around them, such as housemates, friends and family.
Leclercq has been dealing with scabies since 2003, she says. “It has been increasing in recent years. And I see that people often don’t know how to handle it.”
Clear step-by-step plan
Scabies is especially difficult to control in mixed households and among students, she says. “It is more difficult to start treatment there at the same time. And then the infection keeps hopping over to someone else, so you can’t get rid of it. I thought it was a good idea to make a clear step-by-step plan.”
She developed a plan and presented it to general practitioners, dermatologists and patients. She tightened it up a bit with the feedback. “I’ve been using it myself for a while now. I hear from people that it gives direction and really helps them.”
Step-by-step plan for 12 days
The step-by-step plan provides a detailed manual that must be followed during twelve days. It explains the preconditions, such as: everyone in the household must be treated on the same day and at the same time. And: until everyone has been treated, you have no skin-to-skin contact with others.
In addition, concrete steps are specified. For example: “Put on disposable gloves. Apply all over, from the jawline down to the bottom of the feet.” And: “Take the used bedding off the bed. Put clean bedding on it for the night ahead.”
It also gives advice for washing clothes and bedding, cleaning furniture and dog beds, and the time at which you should put worn clothing away in a bag and take it out again, and when animals can be safely ‘petted and cuddled’ again. could be.
Leclercq thinks it’s ‘super’ that her plan is now also being rolled out nationally. “Because this has to reach a lot of patients.”
General practitioner Robert Willemsen from Maastricht is enthusiastic about the step-by-step plan. “I see it a lot, and it’s a horrible disease that’s very hard to get rid of. This step-by-step plan is really helpful. I’m definitely going to give it to my patients.”
Good to apply
Willemsen sees that both families and students suffer from the skin condition. But especially among students it is difficult to tackle scabies in an organized manner, he sees. “The tricky thing is that they often don’t start exactly on the same day and do exactly the same thing. This plan can inform students well about how to do it.”
The GGD Zuid-Limburg, Leclerq’s employer, is delighted with the plan. “With good cooperation, there is now a nice step-by-step plan for the whole of the Netherlands, which we are actually quite proud of.”
In the talk show Beau, student, vlogger and experience expert Gabriel Matser recently explained why fighting in a student house is so difficult: