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American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for the prevention and treatment of head lice infestation.The American Journal of Managed Care Sep 2004The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) established diagnosis and treatment guidelines for pediculosis in 2002. Ideally, diagnosis should be based on the observation of... (Review)
Review
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) established diagnosis and treatment guidelines for pediculosis in 2002. Ideally, diagnosis should be based on the observation of a live louse. The presence of nits is also used by many people to positively diagnose an infestation, although a nit located farther from the scalp than 1 cm is unlikely to be viable. Other material on the scalp may be mistaken for nits, leading to misdiagnosis. Because lice are not associated with serious medical problems, the primary consideration of the AAP regarding treatment is the safety of pediculicides and other products used to treat head lice. From a pediatrician's perspective, no significant risk is acceptable. Over-the-counter (OTC) pyrethroid products (pyrethrin and permethrin) are commonly used by parents to treat their children and are generally considered safe for most people. Pyrethroids are not completely ovicidal, however, so a second application is required. Misuse and overuse of these products have contributed to the development of resistance. Prescription products include permethrin 5%, lindane, and malathion 0.5%. Resistance to permethrin 5% and lindane has been documented. In addition, lindane is associated with serious adverse events and should be used with caution only in a select population. Malathion 0.5% is about 98% ovicidal, and no resistance has been reported. Malathion is highly effective, but AAP guidelines note that the product is flammable and serious adverse effects can occur with ingestion. Very few cases of ingestion have occurred, and no reported cases of flammability, but children being treated with malathion should be carefully supervised, and this pediculicide should not be used unless treatment with OTC products has failed. AAP guidelines also state that no-nit policies in schools are detrimental, causing lost time in the classroom, inappropriate allocation of the school nurse's time for lice screening, and a response to infestations that is out of proportion to their medical significance. Accurate diagnosis, safe treatment options, and a common-sense approach to managing infestations in schools are recommended.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Insecticide Resistance; Insecticides; Lice Infestations; Pediculus; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; United States
PubMed: 15515631
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Medical Entomology Sep 2015The human head louse is a cosmopolitan ectoparasite and frequently infests many people, particularly school-age children. Due to widespread pyrethroid resistance and the...
The human head louse is a cosmopolitan ectoparasite and frequently infests many people, particularly school-age children. Due to widespread pyrethroid resistance and the lack of efficient resistance management, there has been a considerable interest in the protection of uninfested people and prevention of reinfestation by disrupting lice transfer. In this study, two nonclinical model systems (in vitro and in vivo) were used to determine the efficacy of the infestation deterrents, Elimax lotion and Elimax shampoo, against human head lice or poultry chewing lice, respectively. With in vitro assessments, female head lice exhibited significantly higher avoidance responses to hair tufts treated with either of the test formulations, which led to significantly higher ovipositional avoidance when compared with female lice on control hair tufts. Additionally, both formulations were determined to be competent infestation deterrents in a competitive avoidance test in the presence of a known attractant (head louse feces extract). In in vivo assessments using a previously validated poultry model, Elimax shampoo was determined to be an efficacious deterrent against poultry chewing lice within Menopon spp. and Menacanthus spp.
Topics: Amblycera; Animals; Female; Hair Preparations; Humans; Insecticides; Lice Infestations; Pediculus
PubMed: 26336209
DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv069 -
Revue Scientifique Et Technique... Dec 1994The morphology and biology of sucking lice (Anoplura) and biting lice (Mallophaga) are described. A table shows the main species for given hosts and provides simplified... (Review)
Review
The morphology and biology of sucking lice (Anoplura) and biting lice (Mallophaga) are described. A table shows the main species for given hosts and provides simplified keys for identification. Lice have a direct pathogenic effect (damage to skin and cutaneous appendages, fall in productivity) and an indirect effect (transmission of Rickettsia prowazeki, R. quintana and Borrelia recurrentis in human beings; African and classical swine fever virus, equine infectious anaemia virus and Dipylidium caninum in animals). Control methods, current active insecticides (and those being tested) and appropriate formulations are outlined.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Anoplura; Female; Humans; Insect Control; Lice Infestations; Male; Phthiraptera
PubMed: 7711304
DOI: No ID Found -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Apr 2012
Topics: Animals; Global Health; Humans; Insecticide Resistance; Insecticides; Lice Infestations; Pediculus; Phylogeny; Scabies
PubMed: 22369251
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2012.03791.x -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Aug 2005
Topics: Animals; Hair Preparations; Humans; Hygiene; Insecticides; Lice Infestations; Pediculus; Scalp Dermatoses
PubMed: 16096290
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.331.7513.362 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi 2010The current knowledge on the louse fauna of birds and mammals in Turkey has not yet been completed. Up to the present, a total of 109 species belonging to 50 genera of... (Review)
Review
The current knowledge on the louse fauna of birds and mammals in Turkey has not yet been completed. Up to the present, a total of 109 species belonging to 50 genera of lice have been recorded from animals and humans, according to the morphological identification. Among the avian lice, a total of 43 species belonging to 22 genera were identified in Ischnocera (Philopteridae). 35 species belonging to 14 genera in Menoponidae were detected and only 1 species was found in Laemobothriidae in Amblycera. Among the mammalian lice, a total of 20 species belonging to 8 genera were identified in Anoplura. 8 species belonging to 3 genera in Ischnocera were determined and 2 species belonging to 2 genera were detected in Amblycera in the mammalian lice.
Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Birds; Humans; Lice Infestations; Mammals; Phthiraptera; Turkey
PubMed: 21391197
DOI: 10.5152/tpd.2010.17 -
Parasite (Paris, France) 2018Chemical, physical, and mechanical methods are used to control human lice. Attempts have been made to eradicate head lice Pediculus humanus capitis by hot air, soaking...
Chemical, physical, and mechanical methods are used to control human lice. Attempts have been made to eradicate head lice Pediculus humanus capitis by hot air, soaking in various fluids or asphyxiation using occlusive treatments. In this study, we assessed the maximum time that head lice can survive anoxia (oxygen deprivation) and their ability to survive prolonged water immersion. We also observed the ingress of fluids across louse tracheae and spiracle characteristics contrasting with those described in the literature. We showed that 100% of lice can withstand 8 h of anoxia and 12.2% survived 14 h of anoxia; survival was 48.9% in the untreated control group at 14 h. However, all lice had died following 16 h of anoxia. In contrast, the survival rate of water-immersed lice was significantly higher when compared with non-immersed lice after 6 h (100% vs. 76.6%, p = 0.0037), and 24 h (50.9% vs. 15.9%, p = 0.0003). Although water-immersed lice did not close their spiracles, water did not penetrate into the respiratory system. In contrast, immersion in colored dimeticone/cyclomethicone or colored ethanol resulted in penetration through the spiracles and spreading to the entire respiratory system within 30 min, leading to death in 100% of the lice.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Biological Assay; Child; Child, Preschool; Dimethylpolysiloxanes; Ethanol; Humans; Lice Infestations; Middle Aged; Oxygen; Pediculus; Siloxanes; Water; Young Adult
PubMed: 29521258
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2018015 -
BMC Dermatology Jun 2014Lack of guidelines on control of pediculosis in the Solomon Islands led to a search for relevant evidence on head lice in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Lack of guidelines on control of pediculosis in the Solomon Islands led to a search for relevant evidence on head lice in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). The aim of this search was to systematically evaluate evidence in the peer reviewed literature on pediculosis due to head lice (Pediculus humanus var capitis) in the 22 PICTs from the perspective of its value in informing national guidelines and control strategies.
METHODS
PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL and Scopus were searched using the terms (pediculosis OR head lice) AND each of the 22 PICTs individually. PRISMA methodology was used. Exclusion criteria were: i) not on topic; ii) publications on pediculosis not relevant to the country of the particular search; iii) in grey literature.
RESULTS
Of 24 publications identified, only 5 were included. Four related to treatment and one to epidemiology. None contained information relevant to informing national guidelines.
CONCLUSIONS
Current local evidence on head lice in the PICTs is minimal and totally inadequate to guide any recommendations for treatment or control. We recommend that local research is required to generate evidence on: i) epidemiology; ii) knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care providers and community members; iii) efficacy of local commercially available pharmaceutical treatments and local customary treatments; iv) acceptability, accessibility and affordability of available treatment strategies; and iv) appropriate control strategies for families, groups and institutions. We also recommend that operational research be done by local researchers based in the PICTs, supported by experienced head lice researchers, using a two way research capacity building model.
Topics: Animals; Health Services Needs and Demand; Health Services Research; Humans; Lice Infestations; Melanesia; Pacific Islands; Pediculus
PubMed: 24962507
DOI: 10.1186/1471-5945-14-11 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2022Scabies and hair lice are parasitic diseases that affect human skin and hair, respectively. The incidence and resistances of these infections are increasing. Tenutex...
Scabies and hair lice are parasitic diseases that affect human skin and hair, respectively. The incidence and resistances of these infections are increasing. Tenutex (disulfiram and benzyl benzoate emulsion) is an alternative to standard insecticides to avoid resistances. The aim of the work is to evaluate the transdermal absorption and the in vitro efficacy against scabies and hair lice after different exposition times. Dermatomed human skin was used to assess the dermal absorption using a validated High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. HEK001 keratinocytes were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of benzyl benzoate. Only benzyl benzoate was able to cross the skin, but it did not show cytotoxicity at any of the tested concentrations. The product efficacy was tested on after direct contact and after administration on sheep skin explants at different contact times. Permethrin/malathion-resistant strains of adults and eggs were directly exposed to Tenutex, and the vitality and hatchability, respectively, were evaluated. The anti-scabies study demonstrated that exposure for 6 or 24 h completely eradicated the parasite. The pediculicidal activity of Tenutex exhibited superior efficacy than standard treatment on resistant lice. The positive results obtained suggest that Tenutex is a good treatment option, especially in drug resistance situations.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Benzoates; Biological Products; Disulfiram; Emulsions; Humans; Insecticides; Lice Infestations; Malathion; Pediculus; Permethrin; Scabies; Sheep
PubMed: 36142878
DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810969 -
Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 2022Pediculosis mainly affects school-age children worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the knowledge of the parents and guardians of children in...
Pediculosis mainly affects school-age children worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the knowledge of the parents and guardians of children in elementary schools in Niterói, Brazil, regarding pediculosis. Questionnaires were applied to 237 guardians of children at five 1-5 grade municipal schools. The responses were analyzed and correlated with positivity to louse infestation, detected by scalp aspiration. 73.8% of the respondents reported that their child had already been infested with lice. 32.9% presented correct responses about transmission. Incorrect responses were attributed to the air/wind, blood type and the fact that lice jump and fly. 40.1% of the respondents erroneously correlated control over the parasitosis with hygiene. A majority of the participants (58.6%) responded that pediculosis is harmful to health, while a small proportion (20.7%) considered it to be a disease. The prevalence of pediculosis was 19.8% among schoolchildren. Female sex, pruritus on the head and indifference regarding infestation were shown to be risk factors for pediculosis. The lack of perception of pediculosis as a disease may lead to naturalization of this parasitosis. Incorrect responses may add difficulty to implementation of preventive and curative approaches, which highlights the importance of dissemination of correct information about pediculosis.
Topics: Animals; Child; Female; Humans; Lice Infestations; Parents; Pediculus; Prevalence; Schools
PubMed: 35730862
DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220210337