COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF ORAL IVERMECTIN VERSUS SULPHUR OINTMENT (10%) IN SCABIES TREATMENT

Background: Scabies is a common parasitic skin infestation with significant public health impact, especially in resource-limited settings. Effective treatment is essential to reduce transmission and complications. While sulphur ointment is traditionally used, oral ivermectin has gained attention as a more convenient therapeutic option. Objective: To compare the efficacy of oral ivermectin with 10% sulphur ointment in the treatment of scabies. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Combined Military Hospital, Nowshera. Duration of Study: 27-November-2024 to 27-May-2025. Methods: Seventy-eight patients aged 15 to 50 years with clinically diagnosed scabies were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Group A received oral ivermectin (200 µg/kg) in two doses, one week apart. Group B applied 10% sulphur ointment topically for three consecutive nights. Patients were evaluated two weeks post-treatment. Treatment efficacy was defined as the absence of new lesions and complete healing of existing lesions, regardless of any residual nodules. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare outcomes between groups. Results: The mean age was 30.56 ± 10.40 years in the ivermectin group and 32.21 ± 11.02 years in the sulphur group. Treatment success was significantly higher in Group A (82.1%) compared to Group B (53.8%), with the difference being statistically significant (P = 0.008). Conclusion: Oral ivermectin demonstrated significantly higher efficacy than 10% sulphur ointment in treating scabies. It may be considered a more effective and patient-friendly alternative, particularly in clinical settings requiring rapid and reliable resolution of symptoms.