OBJECTIVE To generate evidence on the effectiveness of household-wide treatment for preventing the transmission of pediculosis capitis (head lice) in resource-poor communities. METHODS We studied 132 children without head lice who lived in a slum in north-eastern Brazil. We randomized the households of the study participants into an intervention and a control group and prospectively calculate...

Pediculosis capitis is a common disease in industrialized countries, but there are also areas in sub-Saharan Africa where head lice infestations are highly endemic. However, there are no data available from the African continent on the accuracy of head lice diagnosis made by affected individuals. We performed a door-to-door survey in Skanko village (Kwara State, Central Nigeria). Individuals we...

BACKGROUND There are many different types of pediculicides available OTC in Australia. In this study we compare the efficacy and safety of three topical pediculicides: a pediculicide containing melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) and lavender oil (TTO/LO); a head lice "suffocation" product; and a product containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (P/PB). METHOD This study was a randomised, assesso...

OBJECTIVE To compare the pediculicidal activity of Ovide lotion and its active ingredient, 0.5% malathion, with Nix and its active ingredient, 1% permethrin, in permethrin-resistant head lice. DESIGN In vitro pediculicidal product and active ingredient comparison. The presence of knockdown resistance-type mutations (T929I and L932F) was validated by DNA sequencing. SETTING University of Mas...

The study examines the extent and frequency of a knockdown-type resistance allele (kdr type) in North American populations of human head lice. Lice were collected from 32 locations in Canada and the United States. DNA was extracted from individual lice and used to determine their zygosity using the serial invasive signal amplification technique to detect the kdr-type T917I (TI) mutation, which ...

The treatment of Pediculosis capitis, or head lice, is fraught with misinformation, myths, and mismanagement. Common myths include the need to exclude children from school, the need to remove all visible nits ("no-nit" policies), the need for massive environmental cleaning, that head lice live for long periods of time, and that schools are a common location for lice transmission. Head lice are ...

Background: Data on ovicidal activity of pediculicides are essential to determine the efficacy of commercial products, and to define application schemes. We present an adaptation of historical methods for rearing head lice, and describe their development ex vivo. Methods: Adult head lice were collected and fed on volunteers to obtain fertile eggs of known age. Two methods of feeding were applie...

Head lice infestation, or pediculosis capitis, caused by Pediculus humanus capitis, is a common health concern. In the US, where pediculosis capitis is the most prevalent parasitic infestation of children, 6 to 12 million people are affected every year. Pediculosis capitis remains confined to the scalp. Scalp pruritus is the cardinal symptom, although patients with lice can be asymptomatic. Pru...

Head lice infestation caused by Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer. (Phthiraptera) is one of the most important public health problem in children worldwide. Currently, head lice resistance to chemical pediculicide are increasing, thus new alternative pediculicides from herb or plant are needed for head lice treatment. The aim of this study were to evaluate toxicity of five herbal extracts from A...