TY - JOUR T1 - Permethrin for scabies in children JF - Canadian Family Physician JO - Can Fam Physician SP - 1005 LP - 1006 VL - 56 IS - 10 AU - Lina Albakri AU - Ran D. Goldman Y1 - 2010/10/01 UR - http://www.cfp.ca/content/56/10/1005.abstract N2 - QUESTION I frequently see children with scabies in my practice. A variety of medications are available to treat scabies. Permethrin is one of the most common medications used. Is permethrin a safe and effective option for children? ANSWER Scabies is a common parasitic skin infection. It is highly prevalent in young children. Topical permethrin (5% cream) is a safe and effective scabicide in children. It is recommended as a first-line therapy for patients older than 2 months of age. Because there are theoretical concerns regarding percutaneous absorption of permethrin in infants younger than 2 months of age, guidelines recommend 7% sulfur preparation instead of permethrin. ER -