Efficacy of the LouseBuster, a New Medical Device for Treating Head Lice (Anoplura: Pediculidae)

Abstract

Human head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer) occur worldwide and infest millions of children and adults every year. Head lice infestations, which are known as pediculosis capitis, are psychologically stressful, physically irritating, and are one of the leading causes of K-6 school absence. The prevalence of head lice in many countries is increasing rapidly because of resistance to chemicals used in many head lice treatments. We tested the efficacy of an alternative method for controlling head lice, the LouseBuster, a custom-built medical device designed to kill head lice and their eggs using controlled, heated air. A total of 56 infested subjects was treated with the LouseBuster, and the efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by comparing the viability of lice and eggs on randomly assigned pre- and posttreatment sides of each subject's scalp. We evaluate treatment efficacy in the hands of novice versus experienced operators. We also evaluate treatment efficacy on different hair types and at different ambient humidities. Overall mortality of lice and eggs was 94.8% after treatment by experienced operators. Novice operators also achieved good results after a short training session; their results did not differ significantly from those of experienced operators. No adverse events were associated with the LouseBuster treatment. The LouseBuster is efficacious for killing head lice and their eggs. The use of heated air is appealing because it is a fast, safe, nonchemical treatment. Head lice are also unlikely to evolve resistance to desiccation, which is the apparent mode of action.

Epidemiology of pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand

“…The 23.48 % infestation rate found in this study shows the problem of head lice among schoolchildren especially in schoolgirls aged [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] years. The previous studies in Thailand by Thavara et al [15] , Thanyavanich et al [16] and Fan et al [17] have reported the high infestation rate among primary schoolchildren in both urban and rural areas varied from 36.6 % to 88.4 % .…”

“…In our study was conducted among the [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] years old in 12 primary schools from Ladkrabang District, eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand. The 23.48 % infestation rate found in this study shows the problem of head lice among schoolchildren especially in schoolgirls aged [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] years.…”

“…In addition, head lice infestation causes not only physical symptoms but also psychological stress because children believe that head lice infestation is a result of being dirty [8] . However, head lice are a common infection in school-age children worldwide [9,10] . In high-income countries, schoolaged children aged [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] years are the most frequently affected despite therapeutic advances [2] .…”

“…In high-income countries, schoolaged children aged [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] years are the most frequently affected despite therapeutic advances [2] . Millions of cases occur annually and it has been estimated that children in the United States miss [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] million days of school per year because of head lice [2,9,10] . Moreover, the increase in prevalence of head lice during the 1990s, research interest in human louse infestation is now greater than at any time since world war I [11] .…”

“…However, The variation of infestation rate may be due to several factors including the eradication methods, number of Objective: To determine the prevalence of infestation with head lice in primary schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand. Methods: The present study was to determine the head lice infestation (Pediculosis) levels in primary schoolchildren, during May, 2011 to July, 2011, A total of 3 747 schoolchildren aged [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] years old from 12 selected primary school of Ladkrabang district, the eastern area of Bangkok were examined for head lice. Pediculosis was defined as the presence of at least on living adult, nymph and viable egg.…”