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. CONCLUSION: 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.