Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42098634›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2026

Effective treatment of scabetic nodules with thalidomide: a 5-year retrospective case series.

Rong-Jing Dong, You-Wang Lu, Li-Juan Cao, Qi Li, Yi-Qun Kuang, Yu-Ye Li

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Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Rong-Jing Dong *Department of Dermatology and Venereology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China.
You-Wang Lu *Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Infectious Disease/Yunnan AIDS Care Center, Kunming, 650032, China.
Li-Juan CaoDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China.
Qi LiDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China.
Yi-Qun KuangScientific Research Laboratory Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China. yq610433@hotmail.com.
Yu-Ye LiDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China. yyeli2000@126.com.

Funding

the Key research and development program of Yunnan Province 202403AC100011the National Natural Science Foundation of China 82203934the National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272356the Talent Introduction Project of Hubei Polytechnic University 21xjz33Rthe Talent Introduction Project of Hubei Polytechnic University 21xjz34Rthe Talent Project of First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University 2025535Q01Yunnan Provincial Clinical Medical Center 2024YNLCYXZX0027
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundScabetic nodules are a cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction to scabies mites and their byproducts, often accompanied by persistent pruritus. These nodules remain a therapeutic challenge due to the lack of effective treatments.

objectiveWe sought to assess the effectiveness and tolerance of thalidomide for genital scabetic nodules.

methodsWe performed a retrospective evaluation of thalidomide treatment (50-200 mg/day for 2-3 consecutive weeks) in 38 male patients with genital nodular scabies who had previously been infested with scabies mites and were left with persistent pruritic nodules on the genitals.

resultsA total of 38 male patients (age range: 18-40 years; mean age: 28.2 ± 5.79 years) with post scabetic nodules were included. Some of them had been refractory to other forms of therapy. Of the 38 patients, 28 patients (73.7%) showed nodule resolution after 2 weeks of treatment. A significant reduction in the number of nodules was observed at the end of the three-week treatment period (P < 0.05), and there was no sign of relapsing. Meanwhile, after two weeks of thalidomide treatment, the patient's pruritus symptoms significantly improved, manifested as a significant decrease in VAS (P < 0.05), and after three weeks of treatment, VAS further significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Infrequent adverse events, including rash, mild dizziness, and/or drowsiness, occurred in nine patients and resolved after drug withdrawal.

conclusionThalidomide may be a promising option for treating refractory scabies nodules. CLINICAL TRIAL: Not applicable.

Indexed as

ScabiesThalidomideAdolescentAdultAnimalsHumansMalePruritusRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultThalidomidePruritusScabetic nodulesScabies mitesThalidomide

Identifiers

PMID42098634
PMCPMC13404918

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.