Evaluation of Ivermectin vs Permethrin for Treating Scabies-Summary of a Cochrane Review.

CLINICAL QUESTION: Is the use of ivermectin in patients infested with scabies associated with improved clinical and safety outcomes compared with permethrin?

BOTTOM LINE: Both ivermectin and permethrin treatment were associated with high clearance rates. There is low-certainty evidence that ivermectin was associated with slightly lower rates of complete clearance after 1 week compared with permethrin, 5%, cream (relative risk [RR], 0.65; 95% CI, 0.54-0.78). After 2 weeks, there was no difference in efficacy (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.76-1.08; low-certainty evidence), or in the number of participants with adverse events (week 4: RR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.35-4.83; low-certainty evidence).