Ivermectin as Mass Drug Administration for Scabies – The Need of the Hour

Summary

Scabies is a highly transmissible disease caused by the mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis . Although any age group can be affected, it is common in children. Infestation by the mite usually leads to itching, which can be very disabling with effects on sleep, concentration, and other daily activities. In addition, secondary bacterial skin infections (e.g., impetigo) are common. Treatment options include 5% permethrin cream and oral ivermectin. In small community-based trials, mass drug administration of ivermectin has been shown to substantially decrease the prevalence of both scabies and secondary impetigo; however, their effect at a large scale is untested.