Comparative study of 5% permethrin cream and 1% lindane lotion for the treatment of scabies.
A multicenter, randomized, investigator-blind controlled trial was conducted to compare the safety and efficacy of a single, whole-body application of 5% permethrin cream with that of 1% lindane lotion for the treatment of scabies in 467 patients. At 14 +/- 3 days after treatment, the mean active lesion count decreased from pretreatment levels of 85 (range, 4 to 600) in both treatment groups to 14 (range, 0 to 133) in the permethrin group and to 15 lesions (range, 0 to 500) in the lindane group. At 28 +/- 7 days after treatment, complete resolution had occurred in 181 (91%) of 199 patients treated with permethrin and in 176 (86%) of 205 patients given lindane. Pruritus due to scabies persisted at 28 +/- 7 days in 14% of the permethrin group and in 25% of the lindane group. The most frequent adverse effects were new or increased pruritus and mild, transient burning or stinging; the latter was slightly more frequent following permethrin treatment and appeared to be related to severity of infestation. Because of a lower potential for neurologic toxicity, permethrin may be preferable to lindane for the treatment of scabies particularly in children.
Schultz
M W
MW
Burroughs Wellcome Co. Research, Triangle Park, NC.
Gomez
M
M
Hansen
R C
RC
Mills
J
J
Menter
A
A
Rodgers
H
H
Judson
F N
FN
Mertz
G
G
Handsfield
H H
HH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D026023:Permethrin; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D007306:Insecticides; D011722:Pyrethrins; D026023:Permethrin; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane