Neonatal scabies; An uncommon entity

A narrative review of the roles of topical permethrin and oral ivermectin in the management of infantile scabies

“…A total of seven articles describing the use of topical permethrin to manage scabies in infants under the age of two months were included from the literature search; six case reports and one retrospective single-centre case series involving seven infants (Table 1). 6,22,[33][34][35][36][37] A total of 13 patients from the seven articles were included. Baseline patient characteristics are provided in Table 1.…”

“…Conversely, one article reported no adverse effects. 6 In the remaining five articles, adverse effects were not specified. Treatment with oral ivermectin was associated with no adverse effects in 94.1% of patients (209/222).…”

“…56,57 Despite these concerns, permethrin is increasingly being used in young infants (Table 1). 6,17,22,[33][34][35][36][37] According to the limited number of cases in the literature reporting the use of topical permethrin to treat scabies in children younger than two months, there is evidence that this medication is highly effective, welltolerated and has an excellent safety profile in this age group, with minimal side effects including mainly eczematous reactions, and no serious or long-term sequelae.…”

“…5 Following an incubation period of 4-6 weeks, a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction directed against mite proteins develops in the host and produces an intensely pruritic dermatosis, often worse at night, which is considered the hallmark of scabies. 6,7 It is highly contagious and transmission primarily occurs through direct person to person contact; however, mites can also be transferred from fomites such as clothing and bedsheets. 8 Poor health, nutrition and hygiene, poverty, and overcrowded living situations are important risk factors.…”

“…10 Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, rheumatic fever, and streptococcal and staphylococcal sepsis are known complications of pyoderma and can lead to rheumatic heart disease and chronic renal failure, disease entities that occur in Australian Indigenous people at the highest rates in the world. [10][11][12] Most patients present with classical scabies caused by a low burden of mites (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). 13 Crusted or Norwegian scabies refers to a hyperinfestation with thousands to millions of mites and predominantly occurs in immunocompromised hosts, either as a result of disease or therapy.…”