Abstract:
A controlled single blind trial was carried out to compare the safety and efficacy of a single application of 5% permethrin cream versus 1% gammabenzene hexachloride (GBH) cream for the treatment of scabies in 40 patients. Both the drugs fared well in curing the patients and in relieving their symptoms with minimal side effects, though 1% GBH showed a marginally better cure rate of 100% in this trial compared with 5% permethrin (95%) at 28 days post treatment. However pruritus, which is the most distressing feature of scabies, persisted in 31.3% patients in the permethrin group compared to 46.7% in the GBH group at the end of the trial. Considering the lower potential for systemic toxicity and the insignificant overall difference, 5% permethrin cream may be preferred over GBH 1% cream for the treatment of scabies particularly in patients with eczematised or infected lesions where the use of GBH can be hazardous.
Page(s):
16-21
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal, Volume: 42, Issue: 1, Year: 1992