The objective of this study was to assess the use of epiluminescence light microscopy (ELM) for monitoring antiscabietic therapy. We examined (1) the mite's morphological changes in vivo, (2) the temporal progression of these changes, and (3) their effectiveness as criteria for treatment.
Twenty patients were observed (aged 1-82 years). Eleven adult patients showed the typical distribution of burrows; 3 adults and 4 children (aged 1-3 years) had additional palmoplantar burrows; and 2 adult patients had generalized scabies.