Scabies is a highly contagious skin disease caused by a tiny mite called Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows into the skin.

It spreads easily among individuals living in close quarters, such as within families, schools, madrasas, orphanages, daycare centres, hospitals and prisons, typically after short periods of person-to-person contact.

While scabies is easy to treat and prevent, it can lead to serious complications, particularly in children and currently, it is spreading in epidemic proportions across Bangladesh, reports a press release issued on Tuesday.

In response to the public health challenge, the Bangladesh Academy of Dermatology (B.A.D.) has launched a health service and awareness-raising campaign.

This initiative is supported by the DermLink Grant 2025 from the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and The International Foundation for Dermatology (IFD).

As part of the initiatives, a health camp was held for 600 students at the Jamia Jannatul Banat Madrasa Darul Furkan in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.

Thirty skin specialists, including B.A.D. President Prof Dr M Shahidullah Sikder and General Secretary Dr Mohammed Saiful Islam Bhuiyan provided consultations, distributed medicines and offered health education to the students.