Question

A 4-year-old Aboriginal girl from a remote community presents with multiple itchy papules and excoriated crusted sores on her legs. Several cousins have similar lesions. You suspect scabies with secondary bacterial skin infection. According to the National Healthy Skin Guideline, which is the most appropriate community-level management strategy?

Accepted Answer

Permethrin 5% cream for the child and all household contacts, plus oral antibiotics when indicated, with community-wide treatment where prevalence is high

Answer

Topical steroid alone to reduce itch

Answer

Single oral dose of ivermectin for all affected children only

Answer

Watchful waiting as the condition will resolve spontaneously

Answer

Topical benzyl benzoate only to active lesions

Practice question