title: Ivermectin vs. lindane in the treatment of scabies.
abstract: Scabies is commonly treated with acaricides but the treatment of choice is still controversial. This study aimed at comparing the efficacy of oral ivermectin vs. lindane lotion 1% for the treatment of scabies. Four hundred fourty patients with scabies were enrolled, and randomized into two groups: the first group received a single dose of oral ivermectin 200 microg/kg body weight, and the second group were treated with two applications of topical lindane lotion 1%, with a 1-week interval. Treatment was evaluated at intervals of 2 and 4 weeks, and if there was treatment failure at the 2-week follow-up, treatment was repeated. Single dose of oral ivermectin provided a cure rate of 63.6% at the 2-week follow-up, which increased to 81.8% at the 4-week follow-up after repeating the treatment. Treatment with two applications of lindane lotion 1%, with a 1-week interval between them, was effective in 45.4% of patients at the 2-week follow-up, which increased to 63.6% at the 4-week follow-up after this treatment was repeated. Single dose ivermectin was as effective as two applications of lindane lotion 1% at the 2-week follow-up. After repeating the treatment, ivermectin was superior to lindane lotion 1% at the 4-week follow up.
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Drmgoldust@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldust
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rezaee
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raghifar
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naghavi-Behzad
mesh_terms: D056810:Acaricides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D056810:Acaricides; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D007559:Ivermectin