204A RANDOMIZED, OPEN-LABELLED, PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF TOPICAL 1% LINDANE VS. 5% PERMETHRIN IN HUMAN SCABIESScabies is a common parasitic infection caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei variety hominis, an arthropod of the order Acarina. It is one of the most common skin diseases in underdeveloped / developing countries. The worldwide annual prevalence has been estimated at about 300 million cases. The burden of disease is highest in tropical countries where scabies is endemic. A higher burden of disease appears to be related to urban, crowded areas with unhygienic living conditions. Scabies occurs in both sexes, at all ages, in all ethnic groups, and at all socioeconomic levels. Scabies is generally a nuisance on account of itching, rash, and its ability to spread among people; superinfection may also occur. The risk of severe outbreaks and complicated scabies is particularly high in institutions (including nursing homes and hospitals) and among socially disadvantaged populations and immunocompromised hosts. The mite is an obligate parasite that completes its entire life cycle on humans. The skin eruption of classic scabies is considered a consequence of both infestation and a hypersensitivity reaction to the mite. To compare the efficacy and safety of topical 1% lindane with topical 5% permethrin in the treatment of Human Scabies in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College. The efficacy and safety of treatment was assessed at baseline and after treatment using an objective scale. The cases were collected from both OPD and IPD from the department of Dermatology in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital from 1st November 2012. In our study, a total of 100 patients were studied. Out of the 100 patients, 50 patients belonged to lindane group and 50 patients to permethrin group. Lindane group consisted of 16 (32%) males and 34 (68%) females and permethrin consisted of males 27 (54%) and females 23 (46%). Itching was present in 5 (10%) patients and only in 3 (6%) patients after 7 days of treatment with lindane and permethrin respectively. Itching was present only in 3 (6%) patients after 14 days of treatment with lindane. Whereas, Itching was absent in all the patients in permethrin group at the end of 14 days. Excoriation was present in 9 (18 %) patients after 7 days of treatment with lindane and in 7 (14 %) patients after 7 days of treatment with permethrin. Excoriation was absent in all the patients after 14 days in both the groups. Nocturnal itching was present in 3 (6 %) patients after 7 days in lindane group and was absent in all the patients at 7 and 14 days in permethrin group and after 14 days in lindane group. Papule/papulovesicle was present in 3 (6 %) patients after 7 days of treatment in lindane group and in 1 (2 %) patient after 7 days of treatment in permethrin group. It was absent in both the groups after 7 and 14 days after treatment. Adverse drug reactions were present in 6 (12%) patients in lindane group, whereas, in only 1 (2%) patient in permethrin group. The tolerability for topical application was seen in 44 (88%) patients in lindane group however, only one patient was not tolerable to topical application of lindane. The cure rate was 96 % in lindane group as compared to 100 % in permethrin group after 14 days of treatment. Permethrin is a safe and effective drug in the treatment of scabies and is more effective than lindane for the treatment of scabies. Permethrin has been shown to be consistently the most effective scabicide with minimal toxicity and is currently the “gold standard” in scabies treatment.komalasaravanan7@gmail.comResearch922019Scabies,Permethrin,Lindane, nocturnal itching,Sarcoptes scabieiKomala RDepartment of Pharmacology, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.