title: Eradication of scabies with a single treatment schedule.
abstract: A single application (16 to 20 hours) of 1% gamma benzene hexachloride (GBH) lotion, when applied to a total island population of 178 persons in which seventy-four clinically had scabies, resulted in a cure rate of over 98%. Re-examination of the population at 10 and 21 weeks revealed only one remaining individual still having scabies. On a neighboring island, only those with clinical evidence of scabies were treated (140 persons). Applications of 1% GBH lotion were applied with the same methods used on the first island. When the population was re-examined at 10 weeks, the prevalence of scabies was reduced by only 50%. Successful eradication of scabies from a population should include treatment of all contacts, whether clinically infected or not. Treatment of the entire population at risk at one time is preferable. Coexistent pyoderma should be treated, and a second treatment for scabies may be needed when the pyoderma has cleared.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane