Old drug, new hope? ivermectin tested for stubborn parasitic skin disease

This early study tested whether a common antiparasitic drug, ivermectin, could safely treat post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), a skin condition that can occur after recovery from visceral leishmaniasis. Thirty adults in Bangladesh received either ivermectin pills for 3 months or the standard treatment (miltefosine) for 12 weeks. Researchers checked for side effects and whether skin lesions cleared up. The goal was to find a shorter, safer, and cheaper treatment option.