COMPARISON OF IVERMECTIN AND BENZYL BENZOATE FOR TREATMENT OF SCABIES

A randomized investigator-blinded trial of oral ivermectin 100 mug/kg single dose vs. benzyl benzoate 10% application in the treatment of sc abies, was conducted in 1992 in French Polynesia. In total, 44 patient s aged 5-56 years were included in the study: 23 in the group ivermect in (IVER) and 21 in the group benzyl benzoate (BB). At day 30 after tr eatment, the cumulative recovery rates were 70% (16/23) in the group I VER, and 48% (10/21) in the group BB, 95% confidence intervals 51-87% and 29-70% respectively. The rates of recovery were greater in the gro up IVER at day 7, 14 and 30, but the difference was not statistically significant. Our results show that oral ivermectin is a valuable alter native to benzyl benzoate local treatment.