How Long Does Ivermectin Take To Treat Scabies

Scabies, also known as seven-year itch, is a skin infectious disease caused by a microscopic mite named “Sarcoptes Scabiei”. In some cases of Immunosuppressed patients, it leads to other bacterial infections that make it more challenging to treat scabies.

Scabies Infestation

This parasitic mite is found worldwide, and other mammals can also infest it. The female mite burrows into the upper layer of skin to lay eggs. After 3-4 days, these eggs hatch into larvae that mature into adult within 17 days.

The Symptoms of Scabies

There are some common symptoms due to an allergic reaction in the body such as:

• Severe Itching (Worse At Night)
• Skin Burrows
• Pimple-Like Rash
• Buttocks
• Discrete Lesions

These symptoms are sometimes not noticeable for up to 6 weeks. To begin to treat Scabies Disease, it’s essential to get it diagnosed by a doctor on time.

1. Common Areas for Rashes

The web spaces between fingers, elbows, back, genitalia (male), female breasts, and ventral wrists are the most common areas where these superficial burrows occur. However, these may occur anywhere in the body.

2. Highly contagious

Sometimes, people, due to ignorance, get scabies by direct contact of skin with the infected person, such as sexual activity. It is a common human skin disease that affects over 200 million people worldwide at any given time, as the mites pass quickly between people.

3. Outbreaks

The outbreaks of scabies infection are more common in crowded areas where there is direct skin-to-skin contact. Mainly the places include:

• Nursing Homes
• Prisons
• Childcare Facilities
• Encampments
• Areas With No Proper Sanitation

The Immunocompromised Patients

In some cases of immunocompromised patients, the crust scabies develop and lead to further bacterial infections.

Diagnosis

• When you experience these symptoms mentioned above, especially lesions, go to your health care provider. He might tell you by looking at your skin whether it’s a mite infection or not.
• In another case, he will take a sample of skin and observe it under a light microscope to see if any eggs are present.

Note: Only a doctor can provide you with the proper diagnosis and medicines to treat scabies.

The Treatment

The most important thing is the treatment of human scabies. Several topical medications are being used to treat scabies worldwide. The most common ones are sulfur treatments. Topical medications are those which are applied to a particular part or surface of the body.

1. Ivermectin to Treat Scabies

An antibiotic that has been used in humans to treat millions of cases of scabies is “Ivermectin.” It is a bactericidal antibiotic first developed in the 1970s.

2. Conventional Use

It was once known as veterinary treatment, but now, a large number of studies support the evidence that the treatment of scabies with an ivermectin tablet is a practical approach.

3. Other Uses

It can also be used to treat intestinal nematode infections, onchocerciasis, and many more. A study also showed that a single dose of ivermectin can show therapeutic effects in HIV patients.

How Long Does Ivermectin Take to Treat Scabies?

The critical thing to keep in mind is only your healthcare provider will prescribe you the tablets or any scabicide.

Scabicides are tablets that kill mites and eggs which is the only way to treat scabies. Mostly, doctors recommend ivermectin, which can be oral or topical.

1. Process

Ivermectin kills mites by binding to the membranes of its nerve cells and muscle cells. Not only does it bind, but it increases permeability to chloride ions. As a result, more chloride ions enter into cells, leading to paralysis and cell death of mites.

2. Time

This process of mite killing begins after 24-48 hours after it gets dissolved into your body. The symptoms may remain for some weeks because your body is clearing out debris and mites.

The Usual Adult Dose

The oral option is better as some areas are crusted more so ivermectin can’t reach the surface. It is taken 0.2 mg/kg orally once a week. The dose is repeated after 14 days so that you can get rid of it completely.

1. Topical Form

Taking this dose you can also put a topical form of ivermectin on the skin affected areas. It is mainly in the form of lotions and creams. It can take more than one application to show effects.

2. Close Contacts

People around the scabies patient are at high risk of getting infected by it. The dangerous fact is even if they don’t show Symptoms. The reason behind this is that the mite takes less than half an hour to spread. So, they should also take medicines to avoid the worst situation.

3. Permethrin

This is another scabicide that is most relevant after ivermectin. There are other tablets like:

• Iverheal
• Covimectin (12mg)

That is being used to treat parasitic infections.

The Domestic Care

Care in the home will prevent future infections. Still, once you get scabies, you have to go for the treatment with ivermectin or any other your doctor will suggest according to your particular condition. Using hot water to wash bedding and clothes is effective.

The Side Effects

There are not any cases reported of its drug interactions but it may cause problems during pregnancy. That’s why it should not be used for young children and pregnant women.

Some side effects include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Anorexia

Patients of onchocerciasis are suggested not to use ivermectin as it can result in allergic reactions. Always consult your doctor and talk about your health condition.

Conclusion

People living in closed quarters and children in childcare facilities are more likely to get scabies. It spreads through sharing clothes and direct skin contact. That’s why the first step to treating scabies, even before taking ivermectin, is to stop direct contact with others to protect them. 

It is usually not serious, but the patient is restless due to rashes and may be harmful to people with certain other diseases. Ivermectin is effective in curing this, but consult your doctor to get it diagnosed and treated correctly.

Reference

• https://www.medicinenet.com/how_long_does_it_take_to_treat_scabies/article.htm 
• https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2003/0915/p1089.html
• https://www.drugs.com/dosage/ivermectin.html