Clinical features of 170 Chinese scabies cases and the therapeutic efficacy of sulfur ointment
Guiyuan Zhang1 , Mengxing Cui , Yue Zhang , Sijia Qin , Wenhui Du , Haibo Xie , Zhuo Zhu , Jing Xu *, Bo Liang *
Abstract
Scabies, caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, is a highly contagious skin disease posing a global health challenge. This prospective study analyzed 170 scabies patients diagnosed at the dermatology outpatient clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between February 2024 and June 2025. We aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic efficacy of sulfur ointment in scabies patients. Results showed that nodular lesions were the most common rash type (82.94%), with interdigital spaces being the most frequently affected site (91.18%). Misdiagnosis occurred in 69.41% of cases, with eczema being the most common misdiagnosis. Sulfur ointment treatment achieved complete cure in 54.71% of patients, partial improvement in 31.76%, and no response in 13.53%. The primary cause of treatment failure was non-compliance with medication protocols. Our study highlights the importance of comprehensive history-taking, accurate recognition of rash patterns, standardized treatment regimens, and simultaneous treatment of all exposed individuals to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes for scabies.
Citation: Zhang G ,Cui M ,Zhang Y , et al. Clinical features of 170 Chinese scabies cases and the therapeutic efficacy of sulfur ointment. [J]. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2026, 20 (7): e0014493.
Read full text: https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014493
