The scabies outbreak in college towns is not only causing an infernal itch, but also embarrassment. into your hand (23) lives in a student house, and has been trying to get rid of her scabies for almost a year. In the latest Grazia she tells her story.
No more energy
Eline says: “I stayed with my boyfriend, but I didn’t close my eyes because of the itching. The next morning it turned out that he was also suffering. At first I thought about lice, I had heard about that from one of my roommates before. Until I saw red bumps on my body. In a panic I called my doctor, who asked me to send pictures. The diagnosis: scabies. I was shocked and didn’t dare to say anything to my friends during that first period out of shame. Only my friend and roommates knew.”
“Many people think you’re dirty with scabies. You often immediately think of all those little creatures that crawl under your skin and lay eggs there, where new mites hatch. The doctor gave me permethrin cream. I had to rub myself all over with it from my chin. I was also told to put my clothes in sealed bags for three days and then wash them at 60 degrees. In the meantime, despite the cream, the itching was so bad that I lay awake all night. As a result, I had hardly any energy during the day, which is not really useful when you have to study and work.”
scabies mites
“I begged the doctor for special pills I had read about. A type of antibiotic for scabies. Fortunately, he also saw that I was going under. With special pills against the scabies and sleeping pills I went home again. Thanks to the sleeping pills, if I was lucky, I could sleep through the night and for a while I was not aware of the itching. But as soon as I opened my eyes, it started again. In my sleep I scratched the bumps, so I often slept with clothes on. I was so tired that I couldn’t focus and quickly fell behind in my studies.”
“When I was in the lecture hall, I was very careful not to scratch. Nothing is dirtier than seeing someone scratch continuously. Meanwhile, the itching drove me mad. It soon became apparent that many of my housemates also suffered. Just like my friend’s roommates. Nice on the one hand: I didn’t have to be ashamed of them. But this also ensures that we pay extra attention non-stop to make sure everyone took the right measures to really eradicate the scabies mites. Those critters can quickly be passed on to each other via the couch, bed and, for example, by lending out clothes.”
Crazy about the itch
“During my vacation at the beginning of this year, I thought I’d finally really got rid of it. I had brought clean clothes from my parents’ house and hadn’t had an itch for a whole week. But once home, it didn’t take long for the bumps to reappear. Especially between my fingers, at my ankles and in my groin. I actually cried in bed. In the meantime I was already three hundred euros lighter because of all the creams and pills, and I still had that fucking itch. My body was covered in spots from scratching.”
“I couldn’t take it anymore and went to the dermatologist. He saw that I had lost all hope and fortunately gave me courage again. She would really help me get rid of the scabies. The dermatologist told you to put all your clothes in sealed bags, even the unworn ones. And not for three days, but for longer than a week. She was also shocked that I had already taken pills eight times, but still gave me another dose. Anything to get rid of that terrible mange.”
Hugging no go
“It seems to be gone for a month. A number of roommates still have it, even with my boyfriend not everyone is scabies-free yet. That’s why I’m still very careful. I watch exactly where I sit and where I put my clothes. People who haven’t had it can hardly imagine how intense it is. That itch is just as bad as pain. It constantly overtakes you and ensures that you cannot think about anything else and cannot function. It’s also not exactly good for your relationship. My boyfriend and I could barely sleep together, and cuddling was often a no-go. If you have skin-to-skin contact for more than fifteen minutes, you can already infect the other person. Friends joked at first that I should just grab a chair and not be allowed on the couch.”
“Fortunately, I have now noticed that the taboo is less. I am also often texted by students with complaints, who ask me how I got rid of that ‘super scabies’. Recently I saw a girl with red bumps all over her hand. I knew immediately: she has it too. More and more students are becoming infected and therefore know what you are talking about. It is now also known that you do not see any scabies mites walking or jumping. Although I recently heard a rumor that you can see those mites walking if you put the flashlight of your mobile under your finger. I have no idea if it’s true, and hope I never have to test it on myself again.”
Text: Kim Buitenhuis | Image: iStock
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