eTable 3. Characteristics of the 16 included RCTs.

Author, year, country,	Intervention	No. of randomized patients	Inclusion criteria and diagnosis	Study duration	Severity (lesions: n)	Age (years)	Sex (female: n;%)	Definition of cure/effect	Findings after 2 weeks	Findings after 4 weeks	Comments
Topical permethrin vs. topical crotamiton
Amer (1992) Egypt (13)	Permethrin 5% topical on 2 consecutive nights	50	Clinical diagnosis (microscopic evidence of mites)	4 weeks	N/S	N/S	N/S	Complete cure of all lesions	N/A	49/50	Inpatients; unclear whether contact persons were also treated; whole-body treatment; 3rd trial arm (lindane) not evaluated
	Crotamiton 10% topical on 2 consecutive nights	50								44/50
Taplin (1990) Panama (12)	Permethrin 5% cream, single application overnight (AC)	48	Children aged 2 months to 5 years; diagnosis of scabies, live mites on at least one part of body	4 weeks + up to 3 weeks permethrin 5% cream if treatment failed	< 50: 29 50 to 100: 17 100: 2	2.6 ± 1.8	24 (50.0%)	Complete cure of all lesions	14/47	42/47	Whole-body treatment; only children from a remote island were included; 65/96 children with reinfestation at start of trial; one LTF per trial group; relatives treated with permethrin 5% cream; trial staff removed mites from skin using sterile tweezers in approx. 50% of patients
	Crotamiton 10% cream, single application overnight (AC)	48			< 50: 29 50 to 100: 15 > 100: 4	2.5 ± 1.8	30 (62.5%)		6/47	28/47 10 children had undergone repeat treatment
Topical permethrin vs. systemic ivermectin
Bachewar (2009) India (17)	Permethrin 5% cream overnight	34	Newly diagnosed scabies, age over 12 years, enrolled if at least 3 of the following 5 criteria were met: contact with scabies patient, nocturnal pruritus, positive family history, typical mite burrows on clinical examination, typical scabies lesions such as papules, nodules, or vesicles	2 weeks	N/S	12 to 41 (84%)	12 (35.3%)	No new lesions	27/28	N/A	All patients received BB 25% lotion for their relatives and close contact persons; topical whole-body treatment
	Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg oral, single dose	34					16 (47.1%)		27/27
	BB 25% lotion on 2 consecutive evenings	35					12 (34.3%)		23/25
Chhaiya (2012) India (14)	Permethrin 5% cream, single application for at least 8 hours (AP)	105	Either sex aged 5 to 80 years with 1. clinically-diagnosed scabies, 2. presence of typical scabietic lesions like papules, nodules, or vesicles at classical sites, 3. presence of classical burrows on clinical examination, 4. nocturnal pruritus, 5. history of involvement of family member or similar symptoms in contacts, 6. microscopically-diagnosed scabies (demonstration of egg, larvae, mite, or fecal matter), 7. patients whose microscopic examination was negative, their inclusion in the study was based on clinical criteria, for that patient had to meet at least 3 out of 4 inclusion criteria (inclusion criteria no. 2 to 5), no top. scabicidal therapy for 1 months	3 weeks + treatment change to permethrin 5% at 4 weeks if treatment failed	Severe: 13.1% Moderate: 36.4% Mild: 46.5% None: 4%	23.40 ± 13.55	47 (44.8%)	Clinical cure	99% n?	99/99	Topical whole-body treatment; concomitant antihistamines: oral hydroxyzine 10 mg or 25 mg b.i.d. for all patients in week 1, subsequently in event of moderate to severe itching
	Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg oral, single dose (AP)	105			Severe: 19% Moderate: 39% Mild: 38% None: 4%	21.97 ± 13.26	47 (44.8%)		63% n?	99/100
	Ivermectin 1% lotion, single application to affected areas for at least 8 hours (AP)	105			Severe:16.8% Moderate: 40.6% Mild: 38.6% None: 4%	22.52 ± 12.69	46 (43.8%)		100% n?	101/101
Usha (2000) India (21)	Permethrin 5% cream, single application overnight (AP)	45	Age >5 years; diagnosis of scabies (demonstration of eggs, larva, mites, or fecal pellets by light microscopy or by the presence of at least 3 of the following clinical criteria confirmed independently by 2 consultants: (1) demonstration of burrow, (2) presence of scabietic lesions at the classical sites, (3) nocturnal pruritus, and (4) family history of similar illness); no antiscabietic treatment in the previous month	2 months	Severe: 8.9% Moderate: 51.1% Mild: 40.0%	22.4 ± 12.6	12 (26.7%)	Clinical improvement in lesions, no new lesions	44/45 Repeat treatments: 1	45/45	Family contacts underwent same treatment as trial patients
	Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg oral, single dose (AP, supervised)	40			Severe: 12.5% Moderate: 60.0% Mild: 27.5%	21.28 ± 13.44	14 (35%)		28/40 Repeat treatments: 12	38/40
Saqib (2012) Pakista n (19)	Permethrin 5% lotion for 10 to 12 hours (AP)	60	Confirmed diagnosis of scabies (evidence of mite burrows using dying and microscopic evidence of Sarcoptes scabiei mites at any stage of development or fecal matter), age 18 to 60 years, no topical or systemic scabicides in last month	2 weeks	Itching: Severe: 10% Moderate: 70% Mild: 20%	29.45 ± 9.72	N/S	Cure	40/60	N/A	Topical whole-body treatment (neck to foot); all patients. were given antihistamines at bed time during 1st week; contact persons of both groups underwent same treatment at same time as trial patients (children under 5 years old, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women received 5 to 10% sulfur ointment)
	Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg oral, single dose (AP, supervised)	60			Itching: Severe: 16.7% Moderate: 53.3% Mild: 30%	31.45 ± 12.78			40/60
Sharma (2011) India (20)	Permethrin 5% cream, single application in evening (day 1) + placebo tablets (days 1 and 15) before breakfast (AP)	40	Age over 5 years and/or weight over 15 kg, diagnosis of scabies (eggs, larvae, mites/mite remains, or fecal matter under light microscope in scrapings of multiple representative or suspected skin changes in 10% KOH), and/or at least 3 of the following criteria: (a) mite burrows, (b) scabies lesions in typical locations, (c) nocturnal itching, (d) positive family history of similar complaints; no topical scabicides or topical steroids in last month	4 weeks	Severe: 65% Moderate: 35% Mild: 0%	21.38 ± 13.17	21 (52.5%)	≥50% reduction in lesion count	37/38	38/38	Topical whole-body treatment (neck downwards); all family contacts received permethrin 5% cream for single use overnight
	Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg oral, single dose before breakfast, placebo cream in evening (day 1), placebo tablet (day 15) (AP)	40			Severe: 72.5% Moderate: 27.5% Mild: 0%	23.40 ± 11.03	11 (27.5%)		38/40	36/40
	Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg oral on days 1 and 15 before breakfast + placebo cream (day 1) in evening (AP)	40			Severe: 69.2% Moderate: 30.8% Mild: 0%	23.53 ± 12.73	16 (40.0%)		36/39	36/39
Mushtaq (2010) Pakista n (18)	Permethrin 5% cream single application overnight for 12 hours	42 patients completed the trial	Age 2 to 60 years; diagnosis of scabies	6 months	N/S	N/S	20 (45.5%)	Cure (no lesions)	20/42	37/42	Topical whole-body treatment; information on sex shown in table unclear; 14 LTF corresponds to no. of patients not cured after 4 weeks
	Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg oral, single dose	44 patients completed the trial					24 (54.5%)		24/44	35/44
Romani (2015) Fiji (26)	Permethrin for all affected individuals and their contact persons, single application	803	3 previously identified island communities were randomized to 3 treatment options; trial participation was open to all inhabitants; inhabitants were treated according to their treatment group	12 months	Severe: 5.8% Moderate: 24.8% Mild: 69.4%	Median (IQR): 22 (8 to 44)	398 (49.6%)	No. of patients with diagnosis of scabies after 12 months	140/746		Topical whole-body treatment (neck to foot); in the ivermectin group children weighing less than 15 kg, pregnant/breastfeeding women, persons with neurological diseases, and persons taking cytochrome P450 inducers or inhibitors received permethrin cream instead of ivermectin
	Permethrin for all individuals, single dose (2nd dose in those with scabies at start of trial on days 7 to 14) for 8 to 24 hours (AP with or without supervision)	532			Severe: 17.1% Moderate: 32% Mild: 50.9%	Median (IQR): 25 (8 to 47)	258 (48.5%)		71/449
	Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg oral for all individuals, single dose (2nd dose for those with scabies at start of trial on days 7 to 14), supervised	716 (93 received permethrin)			Severe: 10.9% Moderate: 29.1% Mild: 60%	Median (IQR): 24 (8 to 44)	331 (46.2%)		11/587
Systemic ivermectin vs. systemic ivermectin
See above: Sharma (2011) (20)
Topical ivermectin vs. systemic ivermectin
See above: Chhaiya (2012) (14)
Topical permethrin vs. topical ivermectin
See above: Chhaiya (2012) (14). Sharma (2011) (20)
BB vs. systemic ivermectin
Ly (2009) Senegal (25)	BB 12.5%, single application for 24 hours (AP)	68	Age 5 to 65 years, weight 15 kg or more, itching in 3 or more significant parts of the body, typical scabies lesions (i.e. vesicles, papules, nodules, or pustules) in 3 or more locations typical for scabies (i.e. interdigital folds of hands, elbows, joints of hands, buttocks, underarms, nipples and areolas in women, external genitalia in men); no scabies treatment during the month before consultation	4 weeks + 2 weeks (if treatment failed in the ivermectin or BB group with single application, patients received second application; if treatment failed after second application in the BB group, patients received ivermectin)	No. of affected locations (n patients): ≤5 n = 41 ≥6 n = 27	16.5 (5 to 63)	25 (36.8%)	Complete cure of visible lesions	37/68	52/68	Information on treatment of relatives unclear: same treatment as trial patients/relatives not enrolled in the trial received single-dose BB
	BB 12.5%, 2 applications at 24-hour intervals (AP)	48			No. of affected locations (n patients): ≤5 n = 30 ≥6 n = 18		20 (41.7%)		33/48	46/48
	Ivermectin 0.15 to 0.2 mg/kg oral, single dose (AP)	65			No. of affected locations (n patients): ≤5 n = 31 ≥6 n = 34		20 (30.8%)		16/65: 8 patients underwent repeat treatment after 1 week	28/65
Brooks (2002) Vanuatu (24)	BB 10%, single application (APP)	37 (at follow-up)	Children aged 0.5 to 14/15 years; diagnosis of scabies (typical lesions: mite burrow, intact papulovesicular lesions or excoriated, encrusted lesions); no scabies treatment in last 2 months	3 weeks	No. of lesions: 44.9 ± 31.9	Week 3: 4.7 ± 3.8	N/S	No lesions after 3 weeks	19/37	N/A	Relatives underwent same treatment as trial patients; children under 6 months received BB; 30 LTF
	Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg oral, single dose (AC)	43 (at follow-up)			No. of lesions: 50.7 ± 29.1	Week 3: 5.1 ± 3.9			24/43
Glaziou (1993) French Polynesia (23)	Ivermectin 100 µg/kg, single dose	23	Scabies, clinically diagnosed, defined as itching and at least one typical mite burrow; age 5 to 60 years, no scabies treatment in last 2 weeks	4 weeks	Clinical score [0 to 24] Mean (range): 13.0 (4 to 22)	17.5 (5 to 56)	21 (47.7%)	Complete cure of initial lesion	8/23	16/23	Topical whole-body treatment (excluding head); all household members treated with BB 10% at same time as trial patients; one concomitant antibiotic treatment was allowed if necessary
	BB 10% to 12 hours, then washed off, application repeated (AP)	21			Clinical score [0 to 24] Mean (range): 13.1 (6 to 22)				3/21	10/21
Nnoruka (2001) Nigeria (22)	Ivermectin 200 µg/kg, single dose	29	Age over 5 years; scabies confirmed clinically and using laboratory tests (itching with at least one typical mite burrow or several pustular eruptions, blisters, or nodules); pre-existing lesions for approx. 2 weeks to 3 months or more on initial presentation	4 weeks	Clinical score [0 to 24] Mean (range): 16.1 (4 to 28.2)	27.9 (5 to 63)	Inconsistent data in text: 33 women + 35 men = 68 patients; 33 (48.5%)	Complete cure of initial lesions	19/29	27/29	Topical whole-body treatment (neck to foot); all household members underwent same treatment at same time as trial patients
	BB 25% emulsion for 72 hours	29			Clinical score [0 to 24] Mean (range): 16.0 (6 to 26)				10/29	14/29
See above: Bachewar (2009)
BB vs. sulfur
Gulati (1978) India (15)	Sulfur ointment in morning, at night, and on following morning (AP)	69	Scabies diagnosed on basis of clinical findings	6 months	N/S	16.9 ± 16.1	35 (50.7%)	Clearance of lesions	67/69	N/A	Families also treated; whole-body treatment
	BB 25% emulsion in morning, at night, and on following morning (AP)	89				16.4 ± 17.0	48 (53.9%)		81/89
Sulfur vs. sulfur or other
Avila-Romay (1991) Mexico (27)	Sulfur 10% cold cream on 3 consecutive nights and one night 3 days later (AP, supervised)	26 (+32 contact persons)	Resident of orphanage, age 6 to 17 years	N/S	N/S	6 to 17 years	N/S	No cutaneous lesions after 10 days	26/26	N/A	Orphanage; all contact persons also randomized and treated; whole-body treatment
	Sulfur 10% and salicylic acid 1% in pork fat on 3 nights and one night 3 days later (AP, supervised)	25 (+28 contact persons)							22/25
Sharquie (2012) Iraq (16)	Sulfur 8% and 10%, single application	33	Clinical history and clinical examination, confirmed mainly via mite extraction and viewing under light microscope of mites, ova, or scybala; age over 2 years; new infestations excluded	4 weeks	100% of patients had mite burrows.	Male: 26.74 ± 15.98 Female: 24.05 ± 14.53 (similar in both groups)	15 (45.5%)	Cure of mite burrows	18/33	14/33	–
	Sulfur 8% and 10% on 3 consecutive nights	32					11 (34.4%)		30/32	29/32
	Sulfur 8% and 10% on 3 consecutive days	32					13 (40.6%)		31/32	31/32

BB: Benzyl benzoate; b.i.d.: Twice a day; APP: Applied by patients’ parents; AC: Applied by specialized clinical staff; LTF: Lost to follow-up; N/S: Not stated; N/A: Not applicable; AP: Applied by patients; q.d.: Once a day