Head Lice Treatments and School Policies in the US in an Era of Emerging Resistance

Abstract

Our study suggests that permethrin 1% was the most cost-effective treatment for those with a willingness to pay of <$US162 per cure. Sensitivity of lice to permethrin and the specific school head lice policy had major effects on the model. Thus, informing communities in a given geographical area about the degree of head lice resistance and sensitivity is necessary in order for the public to make a rational decision regarding treatment. Schools' head lice policies have a major effect on the cost of head lice treatments.

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.…”