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To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single 200 mcg/Kg dose of ivermectine as compared with placebo in the treatment of scabies was settled. Fifty five patients with the diagnosis of scabies were randomized to a single oral dose of ivermectine or placebo. The study informed that 26 (79.3%) patients were cured with ivermectine on their first follow-up visit, as compared to only four (16%) in the placebo group (X2 = 77.07, p < 0.001). Overall, 37 of 50 (74%) patients treated with ivermectine cured, as compared to only four of 26 (16%) treated with placebo, this difference was still significant (X2 = 23.66, p < 0.001). We concluded that ivermectine is a safe and effective treatment for scabies.

A survey was carried out in Mexico to determine the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of mycetoma. Data was collected from a total of 2105 cases of mycetoma throughout a 30 year period (1956-1985), with an average incidence of 70 cases per year. Results showed a sex distribution of 76.1% male and 23.9% females. Age distribution indicated a 35% between 16 to 30 and 23% between 31 to 40 year old population. Most cases occurred in land-workers (60.2%) and in housewives with rural residence (21.3%). Lesions occurred most frequently in lower limbs (64.1%), trunk (17.4%) and upper limbs (13.6%). The geographic distribution within Mexico revealed that the States with the highest incidence were: Jalisco, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosi, Morelos and Guerrero The predominant etiologic agents found 97.8% corresponded to actinomycetes, from which Nocardia brasiliensis (86.6%) and Actinomadura madurae (10.2%) showed the higher frequency. Eumycetoma (2.2%) was due to Madurella grisea and M. mycetomatis in most cases.