ARCHIVES OF CURRENT MEDICAL RESEARCH

Scabies is a parasitic infestation caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis. It can spread through an indirect contact with contaminated objects as well as a direct skin-to-skin contact. In scabies, widespread itching, which gets worse at night, can be present along with a variety of lesions, including papules, vesicles, nodules and excoriations. In order to make a definitive diagnosis, mites, eggs, or faeces should be visualised by using an additional tool. Only the patient’s history and physical examination are used to diagnose clinical scabies or suspected clinical scabies. It is also included in the differential diagnosis with other itchy skin diseases. Although several topical treatments such as benzyl benzoate, sulphur, and lindane are available, permethrin is still the first choice. In many countries, oral ivermectin is used as an efficient, secure, and affordable treatment for scabies despite the fact that it does not have an FDA approval for this purpose. Current studies for the treatment of scabies have been ongoing, and there are also other studies on moxidectin and isoxazoline derivative drugs. However, it is seen that some treatments fail due to various reasons such as, application errors, skipping treatment repetitions, inadequate environmental cleaning, not receiving treatment from the patient’s relatives, and not providing the patient with the necessary precautions in written form. It is known that although scabies continues to be a global public health problem, it is possible to obtain good results in the treatment of it if physicians have sufficient knowledge and can manage their patients appropriately. By summarising the information that is currently available, this review aims to provide an update on the clinical characteristics, the diagnosis, the treatment, and the management of scabies.