Efficacy of permethrin cream and oral ivermectin in treatment of scabies.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of mass treatment of scabies with permethrin cream and oral ivermectin in a closed urban pediatric population.


METHODS
A comparative trial of topical permethrin and oral ivermectin was conducted in a closed population of 84 children living in a urban hostel of Delhi.


RESULTS
After mass treatment with 2 doses of oral ivermectin, one case was recorded in following 6 months, as compared to 22 cases in preceding 6 months when children were treated with a single application of 5% permethrin.


CONCLUSIONS
Mass treatment of scabies with ivermectin in an endemic population is more efficacious as compared to topical permethrin application in reducing the baseline prevalence, decreasing the chain of transmission and chances of reinfection.
Abedin
Sarfrazul
S
Department of Pediatrics, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Delhi, India.
Narang
Manish
M
Gandhi
Vijay
V
Narang
Shiva
S
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D026023:Permethrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012574:Schools; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population
D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D007306:Insecticides; D026023:Permethrin; D007559:Ivermectin