Military Medicine
Volume 165, Issue 9, 2000, Pages 698-700

Efficacy of 1% permethrin for the treatment of head louse infestations among Kosovar refugees (Article)

Manjrekar R.R. , Partridge S.K. , Korman A.K. , Barwick R.S. , Juranek D.D.*
  • a Division of Parasitic Diseases, Natl. Ctr. for Infectious Diseases, Mail Stop F-22, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
  • b Division of Parasitic Diseases, Natl. Ctr. for Infectious Diseases, Mail Stop F-22, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
  • c Division of Parasitic Diseases, Natl. Ctr. for Infectious Diseases, Mail Stop F-22, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
  • d Division of Parasitic Diseases, Natl. Ctr. for Infectious Diseases, Mail Stop F-22, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
  • e Division of Parasitic Diseases, Natl. Ctr. for Infectious Diseases, Mail Stop F-22, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States

Abstract

We assessed the prevalence of head louse infestation and the effectiveness of 1% permethrin against head lice in Kosovar refugees. A currently infested case was defined as a person with observable crawling lice (adults or nymphs) or a person with nits on the hair shaft within a quarter-inch of the scalp. Of the 1,051 refugees screened upon arrival in the United States, 107 (10%) were infested. Crawling lice (adults or nymphs) were observed on 62 (6%) of the individuals examined. Refugees with crawling lice were treated with a pediculicide containing 1% permethrin. Of these, 57 were reexamined the next day. Twenty of the 57 individuals were reexamined 7 days after treatment. No crawling lice were found on any of the refugees examined after treatment. We conclude that 1% permethrin treatment was effective in louse control in this refugee population.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

New Jersey Lice Infestations Pediculus refugee mass screening infestation human Refugees middle aged pediculosis Scalp Dermatoses Animals drug efficacy Yugoslavia permethrin Humans Adolescent Treatment Outcome male female Infant Child, Preschool military medicine prevalence Article adult Insecticides Pyrethrins Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0033829072&partnerID=40&md5=4d48aadc5aa782de1a2d4c72179928e2
ISSN: 00264075
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English