The Comparison of Quality of Life in Scabies Patients Treated with 5% Permethrin Lotion and 10% Mimba Leaf Extract Lotion at Pondok Pesantren Malang

Abstract

Background: Scabies is a contagious disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei characterized by itching and lesions that affect quality of human life. Permethrin 5% as standard therapy for scabies has disadvantages in terms of price and side effects. Neem is a traditional plant that has a scabicide effect and could be an alternative treatment for scabies. Objective: to compare the quality of life of patients who were treated with 5% permethrin lotion and 10% neem leaf extract lotion using DLQI and Skindex-29 instruments. Methods: This study is an experimental design with a purposive sampling method. The sample was 42 male students in one of the Islamic boarding schools in Malang who were clinically diagnosed with scabies and met the research criteria. The research sample consisted of two groups: a group with 5% permethrin lotion therapy (21 students) and a group with 10% neem leaf extract lotion therapy (21 students). Data was collected with DLQI and Skindex-29 on day 0 before and day 14 after therapy. Data analysis used the Wilcoxon test and dependent t-test for comparison before and after therapy and independent t-test for comparison of quality of life between two therapies by using SPSS 25. Results: Statistic test to differentiate the two therapies showed p=0.670 (DLQI) and p=0.391 (Skindex-29). So, the two therapies did not differ significantly in reducing DLQI and Skindex-29 scores. Conclusion: 5% permethrin lotion and 10% neem leaf extract lotion are equally good in improving the quality of life of scabies patients.