Gulbahar Sarac1. 1. Department of Dermatology, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Demodex spp. is the most common ectoparasite in humans. This parasite is believed to play a role in the etiology of many dermatological and ocular disorders. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of the sulfur-sodium sulfacetamide combination, crotamiton, and permethrin, which are three topical agents commonly used in Demodex treatment. METHODS: A total of 28 patients with primary demodicosis and 44 patients with Rosacea + Demodex were included in the study. The pretreatment and post-treatment Demodex spp. counts, patient satisfaction, and erythema decrease rates were compared. RESULTS: Analysis of the efficacy of these topical agents on Demodex revealed that all three significantly decreased the number of parasites. The patient satisfaction was higher in the sodium acetamide group than the 10% crotamiton and 5% permethrin groups, and clinical evaluation (erythema/ papulopustules and white plugs) was better in the sodium acetamide group than the other groups but no statistically significant difference was found in terms of patient satisfaction and clinical evaluation. CONCLUSION: The sulfur-sodium combination, crotamiton, and permethrin are the three agents commonly used in the treatment of Demodex spp. and all significantly decreased the Demodex count. The three agents were similar in terms of tolerability. Our study needs to be supported with others on larger patient series.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Demodex spp. is the most common ectoparasite in humans. This parasite is believed to play a role in the etiology of many dermatological and ocular disorders. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of the sulfur-sodium sulfacetamide combination, crotamiton, and permethrin, which are three topical agents commonly used in Demodex treatment. METHODS: A total of 28 patients with primary demodicosis and 44 patients with Rosacea + Demodex were included in the study. The pretreatment and post-treatment Demodex spp. counts, patient satisfaction, and erythema decrease rates were compared. RESULTS: Analysis of the efficacy of these topical agents on Demodex revealed that all three significantly decreased the number of parasites. The patient satisfaction was higher in the sodium acetamide group than the 10% crotamiton and 5% permethrin groups, and clinical evaluation (erythema/ papulopustules and white plugs) was better in the sodium acetamide group than the other groups but no statistically significant difference was found in terms of patient satisfaction and clinical evaluation. CONCLUSION: The sulfur-sodium combination, crotamiton, and permethrin are the three agents commonly used in the treatment of Demodex spp. and all significantly decreased the Demodex count. The three agents were similar in terms of tolerability. Our study needs to be supported with others on larger patient series.