BACKGROUND: Resistance to standard permethrin lotion has been reported. There is a continuing search for more natural and safe remedies for head lice infestation among children. Citronella, a natural repellant, has been reported as a pediculocide.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the efficacy of Citronella shampoo versus 5% permethrin lotion in controlling head lice (Pediculosis humanus capitis) among children between 5 years old.
METHODS: A double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed at the community outpatient department of MPI-Medical Center Muntinlupa Foundation, PNR (Phil. National Railway) Site Bgy. Putatan, City of Muntinlupa. Children living in areas endemic for head lice were screened, and if found positive, were randomized equally to daily citronella shampooing (CS) or permethrin lotion (PL). Subjects were manually 2nd, 7th and 14th day of treatment. Chi-square test was used to compare proportions, which considered p-values less than .05 as statistically significant.
RESULTS: Eighty-two children with head lice were included in the final analysis. Children in both groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, family size with head lice, anthropometric measures, frequency of bathing and shampooing and baseline severity of head lice infestation. Citronella shampoo was as effective as the standard 5% permethrin lotion in eradicating head lice in children. The cure rates were comparable for day 2 (CS=65.1% versus PL=72.1%, p=.76), day 7 (CS=65.1% versus PL= 79.1%, p=.30), and day 14 (CS=81.4% versus PL =90.7%, p=33) of treatment. There were no re-infestations and adverse reactions noted for the use of Citronella and the refragrance was more acceptable.
CONCLUSION: Citronella is a effective as Permethrin lotion in the eradication of headlice and Citronella shampooing can be an alternative natural remedy of headlice and Citrone for pediatric head lice.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Preschool ; Pediculus ; Lice Infestations ; Cymbopogon ; Permethrin ; Outpatients ; Family Characteristics ; Antiparasitic Agents

63 strains of Aspergillus section Fumigati were isolated from 17 samples of arable soil in a central province of Korea. Based on the results of genotypic and phenotypic analyses, they were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus, A. lentulus, Neosartorya coreana, N. fennelliae, N. fischeri, N. glabra, N. hiratsukae, N. laciniosa, N. pseudofischeri, N. quadricincta, N. spinosa and N. udagawae. Among these, N. fennelliae, N. hiratsukae, N. quadricincta, and N. udagawae had not been previously recorded in Korea. The diversity of Aspergillus section Fumigati species from arable soil in Korea is also addressed.
Aspergillus ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Korea ; Neosartorya ; Soil

Aspergillus is an important fungal genus used for the fermentation of Asian foods; this genus is referred to as koji mold in Japan and China. A. oryzae, A. sojae, and A. tamari are used in the production of miso and shoyu in Japan, but a comprehensive taxonomic study of Aspergillus isolated from Meju, a fermented soybean starting material for traditional soy sauce and soybean paste in Korea, has not been conducted. In this study, various Aspergillus species were isolated during a study of the mycobiota of Meju, and the aspergilli were identified based on phenotypic characteristics and sequencing of the beta-tubulin gene. Most strains of Aspergillus were found to belong to the following sections: Aspergillus (n = 220), Flavi (n = 213), and Nigri (n = 54). The most commonly identified species were A. oryzae (n = 183), A. pseudoglaucus (Eurotium repens) (n = 81), A. chevalieri (E. chevalieri) (n = 62), A. montevidensis (E. amstelodami) (n = 34), A. niger (n = 21), A. tamari (n = 15), A. ruber (E. rubrum) (n = 15), A. proliferans (n = 14), and A. luchuensis (n = 14); 25 species were identified from 533 Aspergillus strains. Aspergillus strains were mainly found during the high temperature fermentation period in the later steps of Meju fermentation.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Aspergillus oryzae ; Aspergillus* ; China ; Fermentation ; Fungi ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea* ; Niger ; Oryza ; Soy Foods* ; Soybeans* ; Tubulin