Phenothrin Lotions in the Treatment of Head Louse Infestation

FIFTY-SIX PATIENTS with head lice were treated with a single application of one of two alternative preparations of a phenothrin insecticidal lotion, 32 with aqueous/alcoholic formulation and 24 with an alcoholic formulation.

Inspection the day following treatment showed that no live lice remained, but that 8 of 30 original cases of viable eggs remained in the aqueous/alcoholic group, and 6 of 23 original cases remained in the alcoholic group.

Re-inspection three weeks after treatment showed total resolution of both live lice and viable eggs in both treatment groups.

Both lotions were well tolerated although a number of patients complained of smell and stinging, this latter being only mild and of short duration.

A questionnaire administered to 32 patients (18 treated with aqueous/alcoholic lotion, and 14 with alcoholic lotion) showed that both lotions were accept able to patients. The aqueous/alcoholic lotion took longer to dry, but this was balanced by a marginal disadvantage of the alcoholic formulation in terms of smell, mild stinging, and less cosmetic acceptability. The study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of the lotion formulations, and suggests that the aqueous/ alcoholic lotion would be a useful addition to a pre viously studied phenothrin shampoo.