title: Efficacy, acceptability and cost effectiveness of four therapeutic agents for treatment of scabies.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate four drug regimens for treatment of scabies as regard their efficacy, acceptability and cost effectiveness. Two hundred cases with ordinary scabies were randomized into four groups. First group received ivermectin 200 μg/kg body weight single oral dose, repeated after one week. The second received benzyl benzoate 20% cream. The third received permethrin 2.5%-5% lotion, whereas the fourth group received 5-10% sulfur ointment. Topical treatments were applied for five consecutive nights. Patients were followed up for two weeks for cure rate and adverse effects. At the end of the study, permethrin provided a significant efficacy of 88% and acceptability in 100% of cases, but had higher cost to treat one case (20.25 LE). Ivermectin provided efficacy and acceptability rates of 84% and 96%, respectively, and had a cheaper cost (9.5 LE). Benzyl benzoate provided 80% for both rates and was the cheapest drug. Sulfur ointment provided the least rates, and it was the most expensive. Treatment choice will depend on the age, the general condition of cases, patient compliance to topical treatment and his ability to stick to its roles, and the economic condition of the patient.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology, STDs and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine , Fayoum University , Fayoum , Egypt ;
authors.forename: Talal A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Abdel-Raheem
authors.affiliation: b Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine , Fayoum University , Fayoum , Egypt ;
authors.forename: Eman M H
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Méabed
authors.affiliation: c Department of Dermatology, STDs and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine , El-Menia University , El-Menia , Egypt ;
authors.forename: Ghada A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Nasef
authors.affiliation: d Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine , Fayoum University , Fayoum , Egypt ;
authors.forename: Wafaa Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Abdel Wahed
authors.affiliation: e Department of Dermatology, STDs and Andrology , Senors General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Population , Fayoum , Egypt.
authors.forename: Rania M A
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rohaim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001565:Benzoates / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026023:Permethrin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D007306:Insecticides; D026023:Permethrin; D007559:Ivermectin; D013455:Sulfur; C006723:benzyl benzoate
keywords: benzyl benzoate; ivermectin; permethrin; scabies; sulfur