title: A comparative study of oral ivermectin and topical permethrin cream in the treatment of scabies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The conventional antiscabietics have poor compliance. Ivermectin, an oral antiparasitic drug, has been shown to be an effective scabicide and could be a useful substitute.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study compares the efficacy of oral ivermectin with topical permethrin cream in the treatment of scabies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five consecutive patients were randomized into 2 groups. Forty patients and their family contacts received 200 microg/kg body weight of ivermectin, and another 45 patients and their family contacts received a single overnight topical application of 5% permethrin cream. Patients were followed up at intervals of 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A single dose of ivermectin provided a cure rate of 70%, which increased to 95% with 2 doses at a 2-week interval. A single application of permethrin was effective in 97.8% of patients. One (2.2%) patient responded to 2 applications at a 2-week interval. Permethrin-treated patients recovered earlier.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single application of permethrin is superior to a single dose of ivermectin. Two doses of ivermectin is as effective as a single application of permethrin. The temporal dissociation in clinical response suggests that ivermectin may not be effective against all the stages in the life cycle of the parasite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical College and Hospitals, Trivandrum, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Usha
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishnan Nair
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D026023:Permethrin; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D011722:Pyrethrins; D026023:Permethrin; D007559:Ivermectin