Assessment of the efficacy and safety of a new treatment for head lice. - Inserm - Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale Access content directly
Journal Articles ISRN Dermatol Year : 2012

Assessment of the efficacy and safety of a new treatment for head lice.

Abstract

Infestation with head lice is a widespread, persistent, and recurring issue leading to serious health problems if untreated. We are facing resistance phenomena to usual pediculicides and questions about their direct or cumulative toxicity. The aim of this trial was to assess the efficacy of a new product, free of chemical insecticides but with a physical effect. This product contains components whose antilice efficacy has already been demonstrated, as well as Andiroba oil which asphyxiates the lice and Quassia vinegar which dissolves the chitin of the nits (they are then inactivated). 30 patients with head lice infestation, aged 3-39 years, applied the treatment one to three times, 5 days apart. Cure was defined as the absence of live lice after 5, 10, or 14 days, and symptoms are usually associated with infestation. Easiness and safety of the treatment were assessed by the patients and/or their parents. Overall cure rates were 20% on D5 after one treatment, 37% on D10 after two treatments, and 90% on D14 after three treatments. Symptoms such as itch, scalp dryness, redness, and flakiness rapidly diminished. This treatment seems to be a beneficial addition or a valuable alternative to existing treatments, considering the total absence of chemical insecticides, the absence of drug-resistance induction in head lice, the absence of major toxicological risks compared with usual pediculicides, and the favourable patient use instructions.

Domains

Immunology
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
460467.pdf (1.17 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origin : Publisher files allowed on an open archive
Loading...

Dates and versions

inserm-00862755 , version 1 (17-09-2013)

Identifiers

Cite

Sophie Mac-Mary, Rafat Messikh, Adeline Jeudy, Thomas Lihoreau, Jean-Marie Sainthillier, et al.. Assessment of the efficacy and safety of a new treatment for head lice.. ISRN Dermatol, 2012, 2012, pp.460467. ⟨10.5402/2012/460467⟩. ⟨inserm-00862755⟩

Collections

INSERM UNIV-FCOMTE
223 View
349 Download

Altmetric

Share

Gmail Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More