#Treatment of skin parasites skin#

11 Ivermectin has been used in humans to treat millions of cases of onchocerciasis, other filariases, and intestinal nematodal infections such as strongyloidiasis. 10 Ivermectin also has been used to treat animal scabies, which causes mange. Ivermectin (Stromectol) is related to macrolide antibiotics it was developed in the 1970s as a veterinary treatment for animal parasites. вЂЎ- Symptoms may be the result of an allergic reaction from the death of the parasites rather than a reaction to the drug. 6 Light microscopy of the scrapings may detect the female mite, eggs, and feces pellets ( Figure 1).

#Treatment of skin parasites skin#

The diagnosis usually is clinical but may be confirmed by skin scrapings near the newest and least disturbed skin lesions or under the fingernail edge. Typical distribution of lesions, intense pruritus, and patchy, discrete lesions with secondary excoriation signal scabies infection. The face and scalp usually are spared except in infants. Male genitalia, female breasts, the gluteal crease, waistband, and antecubital fossae also are frequently affected. In severe cases and in immunocompromised hosts, large areas of crusting may be seen.ДЄlthough outbreaks can occur almost anywhere, the axillae, web spaces between fingers, and flexor surfaces of the wrists are the most common areas. Excoriation and ulceration also may be present, and a more generalized hypersensitivity reaction, including urticaria, may occur. Linear burrows are a classic feature but are not seen commonly. The lesions begin as tiny erythematous papules and can progress to vesicles or pustules. Symptoms of scabies infestation include rash and intense pruritus that is often worse at night. 3 While animal strains of scabies exist and can infect humans, the mites cannot complete their life cycle or be passed to other hosts. There is evidence that mites can live for up to three days without a human host, and a reported outbreak of scabies among laundry workers provides evidence that fomites may spread disease. 2 Male adult mites are smaller than females, remain on the skin surface, and die shortly after mating. The eggs hatch into larvae in three to four days, and larvae mature into adults in 14 to 17 days.

1 The female mite, whose life expectancy is about 30 days, burrows into the epidermis to lay eggs. Although it may infest any human in any climate, it is most common in children younger than two years and is endemic in the tropics. Scabies is a skin disease caused by infestation with the mite Sarcoptes scabiei.

The safety of oral ivermectin in pregnant and lactating women and young children has yet to be established. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the drug for the treatment of scabies infection. Ivermectin has been used extensively and safely in the treatment of other parasitic infections, but the U.S. Oral dosing may be more convenient in institutional outbreaks and in the treatment of mentally impaired patients. It may be particularly useful in the treatment of severely crusted scabies lesions in immunocompromised patients or when topical therapy has failed. Oral ivermectin is an effective and cost-comparable alternative to topical agents in the treatment of scabies infection.