Treatment of HIV-related scabies with emphasis on the efficacy of ivermectin

Since the mid-1980s, worldwide reports confirm that scabies in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) result in a wide range of-clinical manifestations which differ from those seen in immunocompetent patients. There is also general agreement that HIV-related scabies is more difficult to treat. Oral ivermectin has been shown in several countries to be a safe and effective therapy. In otherwise healthy persons, one dose of 200 microg/kg is usually curative. In HIV-related scabies, one treatment may be curative but repeated doses may be required. Crusted scabies in these individual requires a combination of oral ivermectin, total body treatments with 5% permethrin cream, and keratolytic agents to hasten removal of crusts.