Spike in scabies cases raises concern in Ctg

Turna Dasgupta took her four-year-old son to the outdoor department of Chattogram Medical College Hospital recently, as he has been suffering from scabies, a kind of skin disease, for around a week.

"I don't understand how and from where my son got infected with the disease," she said, adding, "Nobody in my house got infected except for my son. However, doctors advised that all family members should use anti-scabies lotion; otherwise, the disease may recur. I am worried about my family."

Turna's son's case is not an isolated one. Many people in Chattogram and adjacent districts are getting infected with scabies, with the disease becoming more prevalent for over a month now.

Scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin and lay eggs, leading to intense itching and a rash. It spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, making it common among family members and among people who share space together, like in hostels and dormitories.

Visiting different hospitals in Chattogram recently, this correspondent found a significant number of patients receiving treatment for scabies.

Rashna Binte Razzaq, who took her five-year-old daughter to Chattogram General Hospital, said her daughter has been suffering from scabies for three days.

"The disease first appeared in her fingers and soon spread to the hands and folds of the thighs," she said, adding, "So, I brought her to the hospital for treatment."

According to Dr Iftekher Ahmad, deputy director of Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, scabies is a common disease that can occur in all seasons and spreads among people who do not maintain hygiene.

"The disease has become prevalent in recent times. We now get more scabies patients than in the past. A study should be conducted to find the reason behind this prevalence," he added.

Dr Abdul Mannan, superintendent of Chattogram General Hospital, said the number of scabies patients has been increasing over the past couple of months.

"In March, we used to get an average of 200 scabies patients daily. The number increased to 300 a day in April, and around 370 in May," he said.

"A total of 10,375 patients were treated for skin complications in April at the hospital, including around 9,000 for scabies," Dr Mannan added.

Contacted, Dr Barnali Barua, assistant professor of dermatology at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, said they got around 400 scabies patients in March per day, while the number surged to around 500 in April and 520 in May.

"Scabies was earlier prevalent in slum areas and among people from the lower-income groups, but now it is seen even among people from the affluent society," she said.

"More than 60 percent of patients in my ward are suffering from scabies," she also said, adding, "The disease is very common among people who share the same room in hostels and dormitories. Women are more vulnerable to scabies and other skin diseases, as traditionally their bodies are covered with clothes that cause sweating in the body."

"Scabies and other skin diseases become prevalent in summer as people sweat more due to the heat. Many children get infected with the disease through their classmates in school," Dr Barnali also said.

"Maintaining hygiene is the key to preventing the disease. If any member of a family gets infected with scabies, all other members should take treatment concurrently to prevent recurrence of the disease," she added.