Important Information

1. Participation is completely voluntary, you may skip any question or stop at any time
2. The survey does not collect personal health information
3. You will not be asked whether you have ever had scabies
4. Responses are anonymous and cannot be linked to you
   
   Estimated completion time: 3–5 minutes
   
   If you have questions about the project you can contact the researcher at [123770255@umail.ucc.ie]
   
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Correct Answer: Scabies is highly contagious

Scabies is a parasitic infection, caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis mite

Good hygiene and cleaning practices will not affect mites on human skin

While it may be comfortable to think of parasitic infections as a Global South/Majority or Developing Country problem, scabies mites love to eat the rich!

Scabies cases have been rapidly increasing in Europe, with the WHO declaring scabies and other skin diseases a Global Health Priority in May 2025

Correct Answers (debate below): Prolonged skin contact, hard and soft furnishings 

 Finaly, some good news! Being so small, scabies mites move very slowly and require prolonged contact with the skin for an infection to spread

While sharing a bed or sexual activity usually provides the skin to skin contact necessary to spread mites, human sexuality is a broad and diverse spectrum - scabies is not directly a sexually transmitted infection

Scabies can usually survive off host for a day or two, with one mite recorded as surviving in stable laboratory conditions of 10°Celcius with stable 90% humidity for 90 days!

Correct Answer: Help them access medical support; Be sound, and a good friend

The more we stigmatize and shame public health issues, the less likely they are to be managed responsibly... this means you are more likely to be directly affected!

International responses and guidelines can vary in how to best manage an out break. A link to a published chart outlining them will be provided on the Thank You page at the end, along with a link to the research proposal literature review

Correct Answer: All of the above

First time infections can take 12+ weeks before symptoms begin to show, although 2-8 weeks is the norm

Subsequent contact with scabies mites will show symptoms much sooner, as your body has a learnt response to their feaces

Correct Answer: Itching, Rash, POSSIBLY Crusted Skin

(above) Scabies Rash

(below) Crusted / Norweigan Scabies Rash

Scabies are microscopic mites, that burrow into the upper layer of the skin to lay eggs. A rash occurs as an immuno response to the waste caused by mites.

In immuno-compromised people this can lead to an extreme form of "crusted"scabies - oddly reffered to as Norweigan scabies as the condition was first described in Western texts in Norway during the mid-19th century.

There is a serious risk of secondary infection with scabies, so if you think you may be experiencing an infection and have any of the other symptoms, please seek help immediately

DONT WORRY IF YOU FEEL ITCHY NOW!

IT IS SOMEWHAT NORMAL TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE AND ITCHY WHEN VIEWING THESE IMAGES AND CONSIDERING THIS TOPIC!

Please contact student health if you think you might have an infection, but dont worry - this is very treatable, and will be a funny college story one day :)