Tom Earnshaw
Doctors in the United Kingdom are warning people not to ignore 'tiny red dots' that could spring up across their hands- and if they do, stay away from others while seeking help.
It is the latest health warning in the UK in the last few weeks, with cases up 100 percent when it comes to another brutal illness that is leaving people with horrible symptoms including being sick, suffering from diarrhoea, aches in your limbs, and headaches.
It's all due to scabies, with GPs warning patients about it spreading across the UK.
In particular, there are outbreaks in northern England, where doctors say they are seeing a spike in cases.
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"While not a serious condition, scabies can be very itchy and irritating," says Professor Kamila Hawthorne, the chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs.
"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."
Scabies is an infectious disease caused by mites burrowing under your skin.
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They tunnel in the layers of your skin, laying eggs, which you will be able to see with your naked eye.
It is easily spread by people who physically come into contact with each other, and the rashes caused by the mites can spread across the entire body.
You're likely to have scabies if you find you've got intense spells of itching, especially at night. Rashes and spots are also common.
One university student told the BBC she had started to get 'tiny red dots' around her wrists and hands.
Scabies is incredibly common in schools and young adults, given how much they mix with other people.
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It can also be caught if you have multiple sexual partners, given how close you're getting to others in such a setting.
Sharing bedding is also an easy way to catch it; the same goes for clothes.
If you catch scabies, you should wash all your bedding and clothes in 60-degree Celsius water.
If it can't be washed at such a high temperature, seal it in a bag for three days so as to kill all the mites.
Prof Hawthorne has urged people to get the help they might need if they think they are suffering from scabies.
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There is a 'social stigma' surrounding the disease, but it shouldn't prevent infected people from seeking the help they might need
It is incredibly uncomfortable, and there are creams and lotions that you can access to alleviate symptoms. As well as this, the infections could lead to something worse if the bites get worse.
"We recognise that patients may be apprehensive to seek treatment given the social stigma that surrounds the condition, but it is important that they don’t ignore their symptoms as this could lead to them getting worse and risks transmitting the condition to other people," she said.