Treatment of 18 children with scabies or cutaneous larva migrans using ivermectin.
In addition to onchocerciasis and other filarial diseases, ivermectin has been used for the treatment of scabies, head lice, larva migrans and gnathostomiasis. However, there is concern regarding the safety of its use in children under 5 years of age or weighing less than 15 kg. We present our experience in 18 children (aged 14 months to 17 years), with scabies or cutaneous larva migrans successfully treated with ivermectin. They included four cases of crusted scabies associated with immunosuppression and seven cases of common scabies four of whom had associated clinical mental retardation, immunosuppression or hypomobility. A further seven patients had cutaneous larva migrans. Fifteen patients were cured with a single dose of ivermectin, and three patients with crusted scabies required a second dose. None of our patients suffered significant adverse effects. We believe that ivermectin is a safe and effective alternative treatment of cutaneous parasitosis in children.
del Mar Sáez-De-Ocariz
M
M
Department of Dermatology, National Institute of Pediatrics, Insurgentes Sur 3700 C, Mexico City 04530, Mexico.
McKinster
C Durán
CD
Orozco-Covarrubias
L
L
Tamayo-Sánchez
L
L
Ruiz-Maldonado
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007306:Insecticides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007815:Larva Migrans / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D007306:Insecticides; D007559:Ivermectin