Scabies.
BACKGROUND
Scabies is a common public health problem, with an estimated prevalence of 300 million cases worldwide, the majority in resource-poor countries. In industrialised countries, it is most common in institutionalised communities.


METHODS
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of topical treatments for scabies? What are the effects of systemic treatments for scabies? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to October 2007 (BMJ Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).


RESULTS
We found two systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: benzyl benzoate (topical), crotamiton (topical), lindane (topical), malathion (topical), ivermectin (oral), permethrin (topical), and sulphur compounds (topical).
Johnstone
Prof Paul
PP
NHS/DH Yorkshire and Humberside, Leeds, UK.
Strong
Mark
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008294:Malathion / Q000627:therapeutic use; D026023:Permethrin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy
D007306:Insecticides; D026023:Permethrin; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D007559:Ivermectin; D008294:Malathion