This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (39)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Dermatology, Other  • Alert me on articles by topic  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Update 2000

Terri L. Meinking, BA; Pamela Entzel, JD, MPH; Maria Elena Villar, MPH; Maureen Vicaria, MA, MPH; Glendene A. Lemard, MA; Sherri L. Porcelain, MPH

Arch Dermatol. 2001;137:287-292.

Objective  To evaluate the pediculicidal and ovicidal activity of 5 head lice products.

Design  In vitro pediculicidal and ovicidal product comparison.

Setting  Tropical field station in Panama.

Participants  Head lice and eggs were harvested from healthy children infested with Pediculus capitis.

Intervention  Within 2 hours of capture, lice were placed in continuous, direct contact with the pediculicide products and observed at regular intervals. Fresh, viable eggs were immersed in the pediculicides for 10 minutes, rinsed, air-dried, and incubated for 2 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures  Percentage of lice dead at regular observation intervals between 5 minutes and 3 hours of continuous exposure to the pediculicide and percentage of eggs not hatched after 2 weeks.

Results  All lice treated with Ovide lotion (0.5% malathion) were dead within 10 minutes and none of the eggs hatched. There was no significant change in the effectiveness of 0.5% malathion lotion or A-200 shampoo compared with the results of an earlier study (1986). There were significant declines in the pediculicidal activity of RID and the ovicidal activity of lindane. Nix (1% permethrin), which was not on the market at the time of the original study, killed lice in less than 30 minutes, and ovicidal activity ranged from 73% to 90% (diluted and undiluted, respectively).

Conclusions  Ovide lotion (0.5% malathion) was the fastest-killing pediculicide and the most effective ovicide. One percent lindane shampoo was the slowest-acting pediculicide and least effective ovicide. Nix was highly effective in both undiluted and diluted forms.

From the Field Epidemiology Survey Team, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine (Mss Meinking, Entzel, Villar, Vicaria, Lemard, and Porcelain), and University of Miami School of International Studies (Mss Lemard and Porcelain), Miami, Fla.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Head Lice, Resistance, and Malathion: In Reply
Lebowhl et al.
Pediatrics 2008;121:222-223.
FULL TEXT  

Therapy for Head Lice Based on Life Cycle, Resistance, and Safety Considerations
Lebwohl et al.
Pediatrics 2007;119:965-974.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Simple Treatment for Head Lice: Dry-On, Suffocation-Based Pediculicide
Pearlman
Pediatrics 2004;114:e275-e279.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Economic Considerations Associated With Pediculus humanus capitis Infestation
Hansen and O'Haver
CLIN PEDIATR 2004;43:523-527.
ABSTRACT  

Relationship of Treatment-Resistant Head Lice to the Safety and Efficacy of Pediculicides
Burkhart
Mayo Clin Proc. 2004;79:661-666.
ABSTRACT  

Permethrin-Resistant Human Head Lice, Pediculus capitis, and Their Treatment
Yoon et al.
Arch Dermatol 2003;139:994-1000.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Head Lice
Meinking et al.
NEJM 2002;347:1381-1382.
FULL TEXT  

Head Lice
Roberts
NEJM 2002;346:1645-1650.
FULL TEXT  

Comparative In Vitro Pediculicidal Efficacy of Treatments in a Resistant Head Lice Population in the United States
Meinking et al.
Arch Dermatol 2002;138:220-224.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Treatment of Head Lice: A Double Header!
Krowchuk
AAP Grand Rounds 2001;5:62-63.
FULL TEXT