To study therapeutic effect and benefit on quality of life in scabies patients

ABSTRACT

To determine the quality of life by using 5% permethrin cream in scabies patients. 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. 5% permethrin is one of the effective treatment of scabies it is highly effective, well tolerated, poorly absorbed and rapidly metabolized by skin. Open Label Clinical Trail study approved by ethics committee of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. 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. 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 ups was done on Day 3, Day 15 and Day 30 and there quality of life assessed using dermatological life quality index on day 0 and 30. 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. 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