The use of ivermectin in controlling an outbreak of scabies in a prison.
BACKGROUND
Ivermectin is a potentially useful treatment for scabies.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin in the treatment of scabies in an institutional environment.


METHODS
A single dose of ivermectin 150 microg kg-1 was given under supervision to 1153 prisoners in a prison in northern Tanzania where there was an outbreak of scabies.


RESULTS
Thirty per cent of the prisoners were cured after 1 week, 88% after 4 weeks and 95.5% after 8 weeks. Of 16 prisoners with crusted scabies, seven (44%) still had scabies after 8 weeks. Those who were not cured were then treated with 1% lindane lotion topically, as were the prison staff who had scabies. This regimen eradicated scabies from the prison for the next 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Ivermectin is an effective and safe treatment for scabies, particularly in a closed community, such as a prison, where it is easy to administer and avoids problems with compliance. It was of limited efficiency in crusted scabies as a single dose and we recommend that for such patients oral ivermectin is used in combination with a topical scabicide.
Leppard
B
B
Regional Dermatology Training Centre, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.
Naburi
A E
AE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007306:Insecticides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011330:Prisons; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007306:Insecticides; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D007559:Ivermectin