Scabies has been a growing problem among the Norwegian population. Yet few people talk about it. When Victoria Elisabeth Andal’s (22) doctor said she had scabies, she was relieved. At least then she knew what it was. But she knew little about what it really meant to have scabies. – I thought scabies arose if you weren’t careful with hygiene and cleaning, she says. – It is not true. I shower once or twice a day, still I got it. Now the false alarm will break the taboo surrounding the mite. Victoria (22) associated scabies with poor hygiene, so she got it herself. Now she wants to break the taboo. Photo: Kristin Thrane / news Was asked to stay away Despite the fact that Andal had little knowledge of the subject, she knew many people who had had scabies in the past, and several who had had it several times. – You can get it in the student environment, at work, in kindergarten and in social contexts. It spreads easily through contact, she says. Although many people have scabies, Andal believes that people have too little knowledge about the subject. – I’ve had some comments from people about whether I should stay away, but I’m infection-free and I’m very careful. She says that most people become less skeptical when she explains what scabies actually is. A vicious circle Psychologist Rut Appelkvist believes that taboos are often closely linked to feelings of shame. Psychologist Rut Appelkvist believes that there is a lot of shame associated with having scabies. Photo: private – Several diseases are taboo, which makes many people feel ashamed. Appelkvist believes that the fact that no one talks about scabies leads to a kind of vicious circle. – Fear can help maintain that something is taboo because you fear the unknown. If something is taboo, it is also not known because it is not talked about much. She also highlights the expensive treatment as a contributing factor to people feeling ashamed. – The actual cost is also high and the treatment takes time, so people may fear getting it because the process of getting rid of it is tiring. She says that shame is an emotion that often makes us want to withdraw. – If you manage to be open and share, it can lead to both the individual himself and others feeling less shame, because you hear about more people who have it. Nevertheless, she adds that it often takes time and is a long process. Students are particularly vulnerable Anne Birgitte Thomas Nordal is a dermatologist at the Skin Clinic and often meets patients with scabies. – You don’t get scabies after a quick hug or a handshake, says dermatologist Anne Birgitte Thomas Nordal. Photo: Anton Soggiu She says that the number of patients with scabies has increased sharply in recent years. According to Nordal, students in particular are a vulnerable group, and therefore believes it is important to talk about the topic before the academic autumn starts. – In the past, scabies was associated with poor hygiene and poverty, but is certainly not the cause now. – The main reason is intimate contact, and often with students who live close together. Openness among young people will contribute to less taboo, explains the dermatologist. – Not fun to inform the collective She thinks scabies is taboo, both because it is embarrassing to have a contagious skin disease, but also because it costs so much for treatment. – It is not fun to inform the entire team that they have to go through an expensive scabies treatment, in two rounds, as well as a tiring cleaning of textiles and shoes to get rid of the scabies, she says and also points to transparency. – If we talk loudly about it, we will break the chain of infection and there will be less scabies. She believes much of the shame will also disappear if the treatment becomes free. – Then it wouldn’t have been so embarrassing to have to inform all close contacts that you had scabies and that they too had to go through demanding and expensive treatment.
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– We must speak loudly – news Nordland
