The UK is experiencing unusually large scabies outbreaks and doctors urge people to seek medical treatment if they notice red dots on their body and not to ignore the symptoms.
Scabies is an itchy rash caused by mites that spreads through close skin contact. Early treatment is important in order to stop the spreading. Anyone can be affected by it.
Some of the common symptoms are intense itching, particularly at night, and a raised rash or spots.
Scabies typically causes a rash across the body, not including the head and neck, and often appears between fingers, around wrists, underarms, waist, groin, and bottom.
The young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems can get scabies on the head, neck, palms, and soles. In immunocompromised individuals, a highly contagious form called crusted scabies may cause a flaky rash on elbows, knees, hands, and feet.
As per NHS, the number of cases of people affected by the infection who were diagnosed in hospitals around the country is over 3,600.
According to Prof Kamila Hawthorne, RCGP chairwoman, many people who experience the symptoms refuse to seek medical help because of the “social stigma” surrounding the infection. She said that the number of GP diagnoses was “above the five-year average and rising, with the north of England seeing a spike in cases.”
“While not a serious condition, scabies can be very itchy and irritating,” she said.
“If not properly treated, it can spread and increase a patient’s risk of complications, such as secondary skin infections or make existing skin conditions worse.”
One of the reasons for the scabies outbreak, despite the social stigma attached to it, is the shortage of treatment
I thought it would be an ordinary family dinner, full of laughter, stories, and the little chaos that comes with kids. But that evening became one of the most unforgettable nights of my life—for reasons I never could have imagined. My husband, Marcus, had invited someone I didn’t expect: his pregnant mistress. My heart raced as I tried to process what this meant, while my mind raced through every possible scenario. What happened next would change everything, not just for me, but for our children and the entire family.
For thirteen years, Marcus and I built a life together. We had two wonderful children, a cozy home, and a routine that felt comforting and predictable. Lately, though, something had changed. Marcus had become distant, often distracted, and absent during moments that once defined us. I wanted to believe it was just work stress, but a quiet tension had grown between us, one that I could no longer ignore. The dinner was supposed to be a chance to reconnect, and for a brief moment, I thought it might be.
But the moment Camille walked in, pregnant and poised, the atmosphere shifted instantly. Marcus calmly introduced her as the woman carrying his child, and the shock rippled through everyone—my mother, our children, and his parents. Just as I struggled to catch my breath, his parents stood, their voices steady and sharp. They made it clear that loyalty, respect, and family mattered far more than selfish desires. The room froze as they essentially cut him off from the inheritance he had assumed he could claim, placing the family’s well-being first.
In the days that followed, Camille vanished, leaving Marcus to face the consequences of his choices. For me, the chaos of betrayal gave way to clarity. I focused on rebuilding trust, love, and joy with Emma and Jacob. Simple evenings of cookies, cartoons, and pillow forts reminded me that family—and my dignity—remained intact. Marcus had gambled everything for something hollow, and in the end, I realized that the true strength and happiness in my life had never depended on him. Sometimes, the end of one chapter is simply the start of a brighter, freer one.