Successful treatment of scabies with oral ivermectin in Nigeria

Currently, several topical scabicides are available but there is yet no oral or parenteral drug which has been established for the treatment of scabies in Nigeria. Ivermectin which is a modified avermectin, known to be an ectoparasiticidal agent in animals, has been used in adults for systemic parasitosis. In Nigeria, 25% benzyl benzoate is being extensively used for the treatment of scabies in adults. It is effective and readily available.The present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ivermectin in the treatment of patients with scabies at the skin clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Fifty-eight patients with scabies were recruited for the study; 13 (22.4%) were children aged between 5-14 years. Oral ivermectin was given in a single dose of 200 [microg/kg body weight to 29 patients.The remaining 29 patients had to apply 25% benzyl benzoate emulsion. All patients received a full physical and dermatological examination prior to onset of treatment and weekly for 4 weeks. Skin scrapings were taken to confirm the diagnosis of scabies.There was a 93% resolution of pruritus with ivermectin and 48% with benzyl benzoate. No side effects were observed with ivermectin. Our results show that oral ivermectin is a promising, effective and safe alternative in both children and adults of Nigeria when compared to 25% benzyl benzoate topical application.     

Treatment of human Mansonella streptocerca infection with ivermectin

We studied the short‐term effects of a single dose of 150 μg/kg body weight ivermectin on Mansonella streptocerca in an area endemic for streptocerciasis, but not for onchocerciasis, in western Uganda. Six and 12 days after treatment no microfilariae (mf) were found in the skin of 53 out of 96 mf carriers living in 3 villages, and the geometric means of the mf densities of remaining mf carriers were only 33–40% of pretreatment levels. This reduction of mf density was highly significant ( P <0.0001). Immunohistological examination of skin biopsies showed degenerated and disintegrating mf surrounded by activated eosinophils (positive for activated cationic protein), macrophages, and neutrophils (positive for myeloperoxidase and defensin) on day 6 after treatment. Remarkable was the invasion of young, L1 protein‐positive macrophages and the release of neutrophil defensin as signs of acute inflammation. We conclude that ivermectin has a strong microfilaricidal activity against M. streptocerca Common adverse effects were increased pruritus and acute papular dermatitis in 45% of 86 mf carriers on day 6 after treatment. No serious adverse side‐effects were noticed in about 700 treated persons.     

Treatment of cutaneous gnathostomiasis with ivermectin

In a randomized open study, we compared the efficacy of a single dose of oral ivermectin (200 microg/kg) and oral albendazole (400 mg/day for 21 days) for the treatment of cutaneous gnathostomiasis. Thirty-one patients were randomly assigned to receive ivermectin (n = 17) or albendazole (n = 14). Thirteen of 17 patients who received ivermectin responded, 3 relapsed, and 1 was unresponsive (cure rate = 76%). Thirteen of 14 patients who received albendazole responded very well and did not relapse. Only one patient was unresponsive (cure rate = 92%; P > 0.05). No major side effects were observed in both groups. We concluded that a single dose of ivermectin (200 microg/kg) is less effective than albendazole (400 mg/day for 21 days) for treatment of cutaneous gnathostomiasis, but there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).     

Comparison of ivermectin and benzyl benzoate lotion for scabies in Nigerian patients

Few studies have compared ivermectin directly with topical agents in developing countries. We compared the effectiveness of oral ivermectin (200 microg/kg) with topical 25% benzyl benzoate and monosulfiram soap in 210 subjects of age 5 to 65 years with scabies. Subjects with persistent lesions after 2 weeks received a second course of treatment. All lesions had resolved after 2 weeks in 77 of 98 (79%) subjects treated with ivermectin and in 60 of 102 (59%) subjects treated topically (P = 0.003). The improvement in severity score was greater in the ivermectin group than in the topical treatment group (P < 0.001). The overall cure rate after 4 weeks was 95% in the ivermectin group and 86% in the topical treatment group (P = 0.04). Compared with topical benzyl benzoate and monosulfiram in the treatment of scabies, ivermectin was at least as effective and led to more rapid improvement.     

Crusted scabies in a renal transplant recipient treated with daily ivermectin: A case report and literature review

Crusted scabies is a rare disease variant associated with T‐cell dysregulation. Transplant patients are at risk of developing crusted scabies as a consequence of their immunosuppressive regimens. We report a case of crusted scabies presenting with recurrent septicemia in a 65‐year‐old renal transplant recipient, treated with daily ivermectin for 7 days after initial failure of weekly ivermectin dosing. A literature review of crusted scabies in transplant recipients consisting of 19 cases reports was summarized. Pruritus was common, and initial misdiagnosis was frequent. Most were treated with topical therapy, with one‐third receiving ivermectin. Three of seven cases presenting with a concomitant infection died. Crusted scabies is commonly misdiagnosed in transplant recipients owing to its rarity, varied appearance, and different skin distributions. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of transplant recipients presenting with rash and pruritus, given its association with secondary infection and subsequent mortality.     

Hospital spread of scabies from an immunocompromised patient with Norwegian scabies]

Scabies was first found in a 71-year-old female who had been diagnosed as having leukemic transformation of primary myelofibrosis and had undergone treatment for the disease. She was admitted to the hospital in December 1986, because of abdominal fullness and a generalized subcutaneous tumor that proved to be myeloblastoma. For treatment of the underlying disease, the regimen of the combination of vindesine, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, and prednisolone was selected. She developed cardiac failure and fell into a coma one month after starting the anticancer therapy. She was put on artificial respiration and on additional steroid therapy as well. Dexamethasone was administrated at 16 mg/day. Since the myeloblastomas found on admission regressed, the steroid therapy was continued. She was in coma for a few days before her skin lesions turned red and formed a grayish crust in the lower abdominal region. Several days later, the doctor responsible for the treatment of this patient developed pruritus and exanthema on both arms, and soon many nurses in the same hospital-ward developed similar symptoms. At approximately the same time, the patient with myelofibrosis was diagnosed as having Norwegian scabies: the crusted skin lesions revealing many Sarcoptes scabiei mites. Two doctors (2/18), 17 nurses (17/19) and 3 other patients (3/51) were found to have contracted scabies, and we recognized the hospital spread of the infection. The first patient was isolated in a private room, and we avoided direct contact with her. The persons with scabies were treated with crotamiton liniment. The first scabies patient died of cardiac failure 1 month after falling into a coma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Efficacy and tolerance of ivermectin in human onchocerciasis

Initial clinical studies in 32 Senegalese subjects have demonstrated the efficacy of ivermectin in Onchocerca volvulus infection (river blindness). Although O. volvulus microfilariae in skin snips were not reduced in number after single oral doses of 5 micrograms or 10 micrograms/kg body-weight, they were greatly reduced in all subjects after single oral doses of 30 micrograms or 50 micrograms/kg and were eliminated completely in 6 of th 8 subjects who received the 50 micrograms/kg dose. All subjects tolerated the drug well. Transient pruritus which did not require treatment was observed on the day the dose was given in 2 of the 8 subjects after the 30 micrograms/kg dose and in 4 of the 8 who received the 50 micrograms/kg dose. Ivermectin produced no abnormal laboratory results.     

Treatment of myelodysplasia with oral cyclosporin

Recent studies have shown a good response to immunosuppressive treatment with cyclosporin A (CSA) in patients with the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We have treated six transfusion-dependent MDS patients with CSA for a minimum of 3 months. None of these patients showed a significant response, while the drug was withdrawn in 3/6 patients because of intolerable side-effects. Two reasons for the failure of this treatment in our patients can be advanced. Firstly, the hypoplastic variant of MDS predominated in previous studies in contrast to ours. Secondly, the concomitant use of other immunosuppressive agents in previous studies might have enhanced the effect of CSA. We suggest further therapeutic trials of CSA in MDS, selecting patients on the basis of in vitro studies that predict an immunological basis for their disease, to assess its efficacy in prolonging survival.     

Treatment of ventricular arrhythmias with oral tocainide

This is a report of a multicenter open study of the use of tocainide, a new lidocaine-like antiarrhythmic with a high oral bioavailability, in the treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias refractory to other therapy. The majority of patients have received 1,200 to 2,400 mg daily in divided doses and have been treated for over 6 months and some for longer than 3 years. Overall, 61% of the patients responded successfully to tocainide therapy. In the 252 patients with documented, severe, symptomatic arrhythmias, 71% responded, and the majority (87%) showed a total abolition of symptomatic events. Gastrointestinal and central nervous system events were the most common adverse experiences, and 11% had to discontinue therapy; however, the remaining 89% tolerated tocainide satisfactorily.     

Treatment of adult chickenpox with oral acyclovir

Thirty-one late adolescents and adults with varicella were studied. Patients identified within 72 hours of varicella exanthem were offered open treatment with acyclovir (4 g/d), and those patients identified after 72 hours of exanthem were followed up but not treated. Twenty-two patients were treated with acyclovir. Nine patients were not treated. No severe complications occurred in any of the 31 patients. Minor complications, including prolonged fever, localized secondary infections, persistent cough, and prolonged fatigue were more frequent in the untreated group. If the acyclovir therapy was begun within the first 24 hours of varicella exanthem, then the rash and clinical illness were dramatically lessened. Treatment with oral acyclovir should be considered for varicella in adults who are identified within the first 24 hours of exanthem.