Treatment of scabies with 5% permethrin cream: results of a German multicenter study

Summary Background: Until recently, no prescription drug containing permethrin for the therapy of scabies was available on the German market.Therefore, a 5% permethrin cream formulation (InfectoScab ® 5%) was tested in a single‐arm multi‐center study including adults and children from 3 months of age with proven scabies. Patients and Methods: On day 0, patients were treated once with permethrin cream in the study center. Control examinations including dermatoscopy were performed on day 14±2 and on day 28±3. Patients who were not considered cured or who had contact to individuals with untreated scabies received one further treatment with permethrin cream on day 14±2. Itching and local tolerability of the cream were documented in patients' diaries. Side effects were assessed by history, skin inspection and evaluation of patients' notes. Results: 106 patients in 13 centers were enrolled in the study. Their mean age was 29.2 years (range, 141 days to 71.9 years); 34% of them were children or adolescents. 78.3% of patients were either severely (3 body sites) or very severely (4–5 sites) affected. The cure rate on day 28±3 was 95.1% (95% confidence interval, 91.0–99.3%). Pruritus declined markedly and continuously. In general, the cream was well tolerated; side effects were almost invariably mild. Conclusions: Our results support the efficacy and safety of 5% permethrin cream in adults, children and infants suffering from scabies. These results have contributed to the approval of InfectoScab ® 5% in Germany for the treatment of scabies in October 2004.