title: Clinical efficacy and safety of topical versus oral ivermectin in treatment of uncomplicated scabies.
abstract: Many medications are available for scabies treatment including oral and topical ivermectin. However, studies comparing these two forms as a scabies treatment are few. This study compares efficacy and safety of topical versus oral ivermectin as scabies treatment. The study included 62 confirmed uncomplicated scabies patients, divided into: Group I (32 patients, received topical ivermectin) and Group II (30 patients, received oral ivermectin). Patients were assessed, clinically and by KOH smear at 1, 2 and 4 weeks. Treatment was repeated after one week in patients with persistent infection. Adverse events were recorded. Most patients (87.5% and 73.5% in group I and group II respectively) were symptom free after a single treatment. A second treatment was required in 4 patients of group I and 8 patients of group II. However, 2 weeks after treatment symptoms and signs completely resolved in all cases with no recurrence at 4 weeks. This study suggests that both topical and oral ivermectin are safe and equally effective in treatment of uncomplicated scabies. Single treatment, whether topical or oral, is associated with high cure rate in a week post treatment. However, repeating treatment after one week may be required to achieve 100% cure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hesham M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Eman S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Abdel-Azim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rasha T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziz
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D012532:Scabies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D007559:Ivermectin
keywords: oral ivermectin; scabies; topical ivermectin