The scabies mite has been surfacing in student houses more and more the last couple of months. Radboud student Simone* (22) knows better than anyone how annoying that is. ‘We’ve had scabies in our house for at least a year.’

In Simone’s student house, they had a hard time getting rid of the scabies mite. ‘My roommate suffered from a rash on his body last year. Only after a long time did the doctor find out that it was scabies,’ says the student. ‘Then the itching symptoms started for me and my other four housemates as well.’

The scabies mite is a spider-like creature that digs little holes under your skin. Their faeces cause red bumps and blisters on your body that itch a lot. ‘I really didn’t dare tell others that I had scabies. People immediately stand three metres away from you. They think it’s very contagious.’

Increase

The number of scabies cases in the Netherlands has been increasing since November 2021. At the moment, about 17 in 100.000 residents in Gelderland are still suffering from scabies, according to figures from research institute Nivel. The GGD (municipal health service, ed.) notes that it mainly occurs among students.

‘Scabies can also be contagious via textile’

As doctor of Infectious Disease Control at the GGD region Utrecht, Nadieh Taks answers questions about this nasty skin condition. ‘Scabies is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact for more than 15 minutes,’ says Taks. I’t can also be contagious via textiles. Think of clothing, sofas, and bedding.’

New bumps

Treatment of scabies is difficult. ‘You have to rub ointment on yourself from under your jawline to your feet. You also have to wash everything at sixty degrees and put clothes in bags. This is done in a very strict order, otherwise you can infect yourself or each other again,’ explains Taks.

This was the case in Simone’s student house. ‘In the beginning, we did not have strict rules in our house. We all smeared at the same time and had all our clothes in bin bags, but still the treatment often went wrong. Housemates kept getting new rashes. In the end, we had scabies in our house for at least a year,’ says Simone.

Itch

Meanwhile, the student from Nijmegen has got rid of the scabies. ‘I applied ointment a total of ten times and took scabies pills as well. I used to lay awake at night because of the itching. Now I still get scared when I suddenly have an itch on my hand. It wouldn’t happen again, would it?’

‘I feel sorry for people who have scabies’

Simone notes that the taboo surrounding scabies seems to be disappearing among students. ‘Since this year I hear it more often here in Nijmegen. I really feel sorry for the people who have it. I myself now dare to say without shame that I also had it’, Simone laughs.

* Simone’s surname is known to the editors.