Introduction: Pediculosis capitis infestation is endemic in both developing and developed countries leading to various physical, economical and psychological consequences. Our main objective was to determine the prevalence and predictors of pediculosis capitis among primary school children in Hulu Langat District, Malaysia. Methods: An analytic cross-sectional study using cluster random sampling method was carried out in Hulu Langat District, Malaysia. Self-administered pretested questionnaires were used to collect the data. Hair and scalp examination was also carried out. Multivariate logistic regression was used to control for potential confounding and determine the predictors. Results: The overall mean age of the 1,336 respondents was 9.3 years. Majority were males (52.8%), Malays (79.5%) and 81.3% of the fathers had secondary or tertiary education as compared to 77.3% for the mothers. The overall prevalence of pediculosis capitis was 15.3%. The prevalence of pediculosis was significantly higher among females (28.4%) than males (3.7%, p=0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age 10 years or more (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.34, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.673 to 3.272), female gender (OR = 10.26, 95% CI = 6.620 to 15.903), history of contact with an infested person (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.506 to 2.960), Indian compared to Chinese (OR = 3.55, 95% CI = 1.282 to 9.860), Malay to Chinese (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = .994 to 6.774) were associated with pediculosis capitis. Conclusions: Prevalence of pediculosis capitis among children aged 7 - 12 years in Hulu Langat District was high. There is a need for screening and treatment of pediculosis capitis in primary schools.
Lice Infestations

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Seborrheic* ; Lice Infestations*

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Seborrheic* ; Lice Infestations*

BACKGROUND: Permethrin shampoo is currently the first-line treatment for pediculosis capitis. However, its widespread use has resulted in the development of resistance.
OBJECTIVE: To compare aromatic oil shampoo and 1% permethrin shampoo in terms of efficacy and safety
METHOD: One hundred fifty-hour patients with active infestation were treated in this randomized, assessor-blind, controlled trial using aromatic oil or permethrin shampoo, applied once weekly for three weeks. Evaluations were conducted at baseline and a week after shampoo application. Complete cure was defined as the absence of live louse on day 21.
RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of complete cure, changes in patient's quality of life and pruritus at day 21. Neither group reported any diverse effects.
CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of the aromatic oil shampoo was comparable to that of 1%permethrin shampoo in treating pediculosis capitis.

Animal ; Anoplura ; Lice Infestations ; Parasitic Diseases ; Permethrin ; Pruritus ; Quality Of Life

Objective: To determine the efficacy of cooking coconut oil and vinegar as compared to 1% Permethrin shampoo in the treatment of Pediculosis humanus capitis in children 3 – 12 years old. Methodology: The study was conducted in Barangay 704, Zone 77 in Malate among children 3 – 12 years old. Two hundred forty-five subjects were screened and the computed sample size was 150. Subjects were randomized to three treatment groups: coconut oil (CO) group; vinegar plus coconut oil (CV) group; and 1% permethrin shampoo (PS) group. Treatments were given on the 1st and 8th day. The final level of infestation was determined on the 14th day. Cure rates, failure rates, and expenses were also determined. Results: Permethrin achieved superiority over plain coconut oil (X2=18.77 p-value = 0.00). There was no sufficient evidence to prove the superiority of permethrin over coconut-vinegar solution (X2=1.04 p-value = 0.30). Twenty-two percent (11) of the participants from the PS group developed itching and irritation. No adverse effect was reported from the CO and CV groups. Permethrin was 14 times and five times more expensive than coconut oil and vinegar plus coconut oil, respectively. Conclusion Permethrin shampoo had a cure rate of 98%. Plain coconut oil and vinegar plus coconut oil had cure rates of 68% and 94%, respectively. Plain coconut oil had the highest failure rate at 36%, vinegar plus coconut oil at 6%, and permethrin shampoo with 2%. Adverse effects were exclusive to the PS group. Plain coconut oil was the most economical but coconut oil with vinegar with its significant cure rate can be an alternative therapy to permethrin shampoo in the treatment of head lice in children.
Pediculus ; Coconut Oil ; Acetic Acid ; Permethrin ; Lice Infestations

Phthiriasis palpebrarum is a rare disease in which crab lice infest the eyelashes. It can cause pruritic lid margins or unusual blepharoconjunctivitis and is difficult to diagnose and treat. We diagnosed and managed a case of phthiriasis palpebrarum in both upper eyelids, accompanied by nits, on the scalp of a 6 year-old female child. We removed the eyelashes, including lice and nits, by pulling with fine forceps without sedation. On the second month after treatment, all lice and nits were eradicated without recurrence and the eyelashes grew back. In conclusion, phthiriasis palpebrarum can be diagnosed by close examination of the eyelashes and eyelid margins with slit lamp and can be managed mechanically.
Child ; *Eyelashes ; Eyelid Diseases/*therapy ; Female ; *Hair Removal/methods ; Human ; Lice Infestations/*therapy ; *Phthirus

Pthiriasis palpebrarum is a rare disease in which crab lice infest the eyelashes. It can cause pruritic lid margins, and it is difficult to diagnose and treat. We diagnosed and managed a case of pthiriasis palpebrarum in the right upper eyelid of a 35 month-old male child. We removed the lice and nits by pulling with fine forceps using dermoscopy. After treatment, all lice and nits had been eradicated without recurrence. We suggest that this is an effective, safe method for diagnosis and treatment of pthiriasis palpebrarum.
Child ; Dermoscopy ; Eyelashes ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Lice Infestations ; Male ; Pediculus ; Phthiraptera ; Phthirus ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Surgical Instruments

BACKGROUND: Pediculosis continues to be a common yet neglected public health problem especially in children. Trials to test for effectiveness for head lice interventions are heterogeneous, and a recent systematic review recommended  the use of cluster randomization and centralized administration (e.g. school) of permethrin for pediculosis trials.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of a school-based to a home-based intervention using permethrin 1% shampoo in treating pediculosis capitis. 

METHODS: We conducted a pragmatic, cluster-randomized trial at the Makati Elementary School. All Grade Four students  (n = 211), belonging to a total of five class sections, were invited to participate in the study. Students with a known allergic reaction to permethrin 1% shampoo, with open wounds on the scalp, or were absent on Days 1 or 10 of the intervention period were excluded. The five class sections were randomized to receive permethrin 1% shampoo to be applied either in school, or at home. The students were classified as having none, light, medium, or heavy infestation prior to Day 1 and after Day 10 treatment. Prevalence, incidence, and treatment outcomes were measured.

RESULTS: The baseline prevalence of pediculosis capitis was 58.4%. General characteristics of students were similar between groups. No significant clustering in pediculosis classification was observed. The school-based group had the same prevalence in pediculosis at Days 1 and 10, had no incident cases, and were limited to light infestation by Day 10, but had no treatment success outcomes. The home-based group had increased prevalence by Day 10, poor compliance with Day 1 and 10 shampoo,  incident cases, although it registered a higher treatment success rate.

CONCLUSION: Compared to standard home based intervention, a school-based strategy resulted in less incident cases (0% vs. 37%), reduction in pediculosis severity (p = 0.007), and higher compliance (100% vs. 58.3%). Control of pediculosis in this specific community is largely warranted because of its high prevalence rate of 59.7%.

 

Human ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Pediculus ; Lice Infestations ; Permethrin ; Scalp ; Public Health ; Schools ; Treatment Outcome ; Students ; Hypersensitivity

OBJECTIVE: To determine the in vitro pediculicidal efficacy and acute dermal irritation in rabbits of hair cream prepared from the methanolic extract of Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. f. et Thoms. known in the Philippines as makabuhay.

METHODS: Several concentrations of methanolic extract, an aqueous and alcoholic extract, from makabuhay were tested for in vitro pediculicidal efficacy based on methods established by earlier studies. The 60% concentration of the methanolic extract, found to be the most efficacious, was made into a hair cream and was tested for in vitro pediculicidal efficacy against Kwell® Reformulated Shampoo (Permethrin 1%). The same product was evaluated for acute dermal irritation in rabbits.

RESULTS: The 60% concentration of the methanolic extract formulated into a hair cream showed in vitro pediculicidal efficacy based on stringent criteria of 100%, 96.4%, 85.7%, 78.6%, 67.9%, 64.3% and 64.3% after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, and 6 hours of observation, respectively, as compared with the 100% efficacy of Kwell® Reformulated Shampoo (Permethrin 1%). The hair cream passed the dermal irritation test on abraded and intact skin of rabbits.

CONCLUSION: The hair cream from the 60% methanolic extract of makabuhay was shown to possess some in vitro pediculicidal efficacy and was found to be non-irritating. This herbal pediculicide may be an alternative treatment for lice infestation.

Animal ; Rabbits ; Lice Infestations ; Lindane ; Permethrin ; Tinospora ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; Methanol ; Philippines ; Antiparasitic Agents ; Hair ; Pediculus

Animals ; Axilla ; Humans ; Lice Infestations ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phthirus ; Sweat Gland Diseases ; etiology