The travel mistake everyone makes that puts you at risk of SCABIES

Holidaymakers are making a critical mistake that is putting them at risk of a deadly Victorian skin disease, an expert has warned. 

According to sleep specialist Martin Seeley, dumping your luggage on a hotel bed could put you at risk of scabies—even in the fanciest of places.

The microscopic mites that cause the infection are often found burrowed into bed linen and mattresses, and can easily jump into bags and ultimately travel home with you, he warned.

Instead, he told The Mirror, travellers should keep bags elevated on a chair and stool and if you’re worried the room isn’t clean ‘only take out what you need’.

Mr Seeley’s alert comes amid a 74 per cent increase in scabies cases in NHS hospitals across the country between 2023 and 2024, as well as a 35 per cent rise in infestations of bed bugs since 2022. 

The highly infectious condition is caused by tiny mites that work their way into the skin, and can spread via person-to-person contact.

It causes intense itching, which is mostly noticed at night, typically between the fingers, or around your wrists, elbows, waist and genitals.

It can also be accompanied by small, red bumps or track-like burrows on your skin, according to Mr Seeley.

‘When staying in hotels or holiday rentals, a quick inspection can go a long way,’ he said. 

‘Check mattress seams, bed frames, and behind headboards before settling in and unpacking your belongings’.

Telltale signs of bed bugs meanwhile, are ‘small reddish-brown spots on your sheets, moulted skin, or clusters of tiny bites, often in a line or zig-zag pattern,’ said Mr Seeley.

‘You’ll usually find bed bugs in the seams and folds of your mattress if they have decided to take residence.’

If you’ve returned home and discovered bed bugs, you should act quickly, he warned.

‘When attempting to eradicate bed bugs, begin by vacuuming thoroughly and remember to dispose of the collected dirt immediately in an outside bin.

‘Wash and dry all bedding or clothes… and consider steam cleaning your sofa in case they’ve transferred there too.’

As for scabies: ‘Wash all bedding, towels, and clothing in hot water (at least 60°C)… any items that cannot be washed should be sealed in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours.

‘You should also make sure that anyone in your household who may have been exposed is treated at the same time to prevent re-infestation.’

The NHS advises seeking advice from a pharmacist if you believe you have scabies, who can recommend a cream or lotion.

However you should see a GP if you have a child under the age of two, and they or someone in your household has symptoms of scabies.

Similarly you should see a doctor if you have skin that may be infected, have eczema, notice crusted or flaky skin, or if symptoms persist two to four weeks after treatment.

Fortunately, while bed bug bites and itching from scabies can keep you up at night, the expert from at MattressNextDay shared simple ways to get a better night’s sleep.

Most commonly bed bug bites cause itchiness, swelling and welts, which can be relieved by taking and antihistamine and keeping the room cool, he suggested.

Meanwhile, if you have scabies, applying a prescribed topical treatment at bedtime, keeping your room cool, and using lightweight bedding, can help.

He added: ‘Trimming your nails can prevent you from scratching too hard in your sleep and causing further infection.’

It is also a good idea to invest in a high-quality mattress protector, but you should remove and wash it regularly, he added.

He also recommended hoovering your bed frame, wiping down the headboard, and dusting any areas around your bed frequently.

In 2023, a number of viral social media videos showed what appeared to be infestations of bed bugs on the London Underground.

TikTok and Instagram users urged Transport for London (TfL) to ‘sort it out’ in the footage, which has been watched millions of times.

The clips came amid fears that an infestation of ‘super-bedbugs’ in Paris, which resulted in hotels and transport being put on red alert, would sweep through the UK.