To Study Therapeutic Effect and Benefit on Quality of Life in Scabies Patients

Abstract

Objective: To determine the quality of life by using 5% permethrin cream in scabies patients 
Background: Scabies is a contagious, itchy ectoparasitic infection caused by sarcoptes scabiei mite. It is a common 
public health problem with an estimated global prevalence of 300 to 400 million cases. They increases day by day 
due to resistance/ recurrence and largely effect the quality of life of patients.5%permethrin is one of the effective 
treatment of scabies it  is highly effective, well tolerated ,poorly absorbed and rapidly metabolized by skin.   
Study Design: Open Label Clinical Trail study approved by ethics Committee of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical 
Centre, Karachi. 
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Basic Medical Sciences Institute with Collaboration of 
Dermatology Department of JPMC, Karachi from 1st Dec 2010 to 30th Jan. 2011.  
Materials and Methods: This study sample involved 65 clinically diagnosed scabies patients who were treated with 
5% permethrin cream. Clinical data was collected by using questionnaire. Patients were divided into three age 
groups and given two applications of permethrin cream on first and 15 day. Follow up was done on Day 3, Day 15 
and Day 30and there quality of life assessed using dermatological life quality index on day 0 and 30. 
Results: It was found that quality of life in scabies patients was low and treatment with permethrin cream clinically 
improved the symptoms of patients and their quality of life significantly. 
Conclusion: Scabies has a social stigma and the quality of life of patient get effected because of night itching and 
lack of sleep which improves significantly following proper local therapy.