Tratamiento de la pediculosis capitis en niños con permetrina al 1 por ciento en champú o loción / Treatment of pediculosis capitis in children with 1 percent permethrin shampoo or lotion

ABSTRACT

A clinical and entomological trial was carried out in 88 head louse (pediculus humanus capitis) infested children treated with a single dose of 1 percent permethrin shampoo or lotion. The sex distribution was 47 males and 41 females with ages ranging between 5 and 14 years old. In order to assess the efficiency of treatments, search for adult forms, nymphs and eggs (nits) of the parasite was performed in each of the children, before and after treatment (30 minutes, 7 days and 21 days). The entomological evaluations consisted in stereoscopic and microscopic examination of a mean of 12 hair samples taken from the retroauricular and occipital regions of each of the children, the biological condition of eggs, viable (inmature, mature), dead ans empty, was recorded. The cure rates, both clinical and entomological, obtained were 91,5 percent for shampoo and 95.2 percent for lotion. No adverse reactions with the 2 formulations used were reported. In conclusion, 1 percent permethrin shampoo or lotion is an effective and safe treatment for pediculosis capitis