[The treatment of scabies with permethrin in comparison with lindane and benzyl benzoate]

This open clinical study was designed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and side-effects of lindane (1% and 0.3%), benzyl benzoate (20% and 10%) and permethrin (5% and 2.5%) after twice-, three times- and once application at bedtime, respectively, in the treatment of scabies in 104 adults and 70 children aged between 0 and 5 years. Treatment failures were registered afer lindane in 3 adults and 2 children, while benzyl benzoate and permethrin cured all patients as assessed after 3 weeks follow-up. The number of irritations and postscabious eccematous reactions was increased after benzyl benzoate. Permethrin revealed to be very reliable and exhibited only a few side-effects when applied once at bedtime. Because of the risk of the percutaneous absorption and neurotoxicity of lindane, the application of permethrin can be recommended as an useful alternative in premature infants and small children, patients with seizures and neurological complications, in cases of treatment failures of lindane with the need to repeat the therapy, in scabies crustosa as well as in children, pregnant woman and nursing mothers.