Scabies cases surge in Suffolk hospitals amidst falling vaccination rate concerns

Why it matters: Scabies is a rash caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. It is usually treatable with cream or lotion. It is usually not serious but can be extremely itchy.

The rise in scabies cases highlights potential links to poverty, while increases in measles and whooping cough diagnoses highlight concerns about falling vaccination rates.

By the numbers:

• Around 65 patients received a scabies diagnosis at the trust's A&E services in 2023-24, up from 15 the previous year.

• 10 hospitalisations for whooping cough were recorded.

• Approximately 10 A&E visits were for measles.

The big picture: These local increases mirror a national trend:

• Measles diagnoses in A&E rose five-fold across England to 2,305 visits

• Whooping cough diagnoses tripled to 1,696 cases

• Scabies cases increased by 66% to 5,661 diagnoses

What they're saying: Gwen Nightingale, assistant director of Healthy Lives at the Health Foundation, said: "Not having enough income to sustain a basic standard of living can have a negative impact on health, through factors like cold, damp homes or an inability to access healthy foods. The stress of living on a low income can also negatively impact health."

A UK Health Service Authority spokesperson called the rise in measles hospitalisations a potential "canary in the coalmine" for falling vaccination rates.

Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccination and screening, said: "These worrying figures highlight that too many children are still not fully protected against diseases like measles and whooping cough, which can cause serious illness but are preventable."

The bottom line: Health experts urge parents to check their children's vaccination records and book appointments with their GP, if needed, to ensure protection against preventable and potentially serious diseases.

Sources

• Hospital Accident & Emergency Activity, 2023-24

• Hospital Accident & Emergency Activity, 2022-23