Where just under 36 cases of scabies per 100,000 inhabitants were reported in the Groningen region three weeks ago, last week this had risen to more than 66 cases. In the Amsterdam region, the number of patients rose from about 52 per 100,000 inhabitants to 75 last week.
Flip up
And in the Gooi and Vecht region, GPs reported just under 85 cases per 100,000 inhabitants last week, where three weeks ago there were less than 52. But the national figures have also been rising week by week since the end of the summer.
Scabies can be transmitted through prolonged physical contact, such as sexual contact or sleeping in the same bed. GPs see a relatively large number of patients in the 15 to 24 age group, but the numbers of patients in other age groups are also much higher than in previous years.
Run parallel
Nevertheless, the care providers mainly look at students. The Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG) points out that students regularly live in one house, each with a different GP. While it is precisely the treatments for scabies that need to be synchronized in order to be successful.
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.
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)
Last month, medical microbiologist Matthew McCall of Radboudumc explained to EditieNL that it is therefore much more difficult to combat scabies today than it used to be. “In the past, scabies mainly occurred within a family. Then a general practitioner could treat the family at once and it did not lead to reinfection.”
In a student house
Student, vlogger and experience expert Gabriel Matser recently explained to Beau how much more difficult it is in a student house these days: