Management and Treatment of Human Lice

Abstract

Of the three lice (head, body, and pubic louse) that infest humans, the body louse is the species involved in epidemics of louse-borne typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever, but all the three cause pediculosis. Their infestations occur today in many countries despite great efforts to maintain high standards of public health. In this review, literature searches were performed through PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and EBSCOhost, with key search words of “Pediculus humanus”, “lice infestation”, “pediculosis”, and “treatment”; and controlled clinical trials were viewed with great interest. Removing lice by hand or with a lice comb, heating infested clothing, and shaving the scalp were some of the oldest methods of controlling human lice. Despite the introduction of other resources including cresol, naphthalene, sulfur, mercury, vinegar, petroleum, and insecticides, the numbers of lice infestation cases and resistance have increased. To date, viable alternative treatments to replace insecticides have been developed experimentally in vitro. Today, the development of new treatment strategies such as symbiotic treatment and synergistic treatment (antibiotics + ivermectin) in vitro has proved effective and is promising. Here, we present an overview on managing and treating human lice and highlight new strategies to more effectively fight pediculosis and prevent resistance.

Clinical studies evaluating abametapir lotion, 0.74%, for the treatment of head louse infestation

“…Head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis , have been infesting human heads for thousands of years . Louse infestation is estimated to affect 6‐12 million people in the United States annually, primarily children aged 3‐12 . Clinical effects of head louse infestation include excoriation and infection due to scratching, poor sleep, and social disruption …”

“…The majority of head louse infestations are treated with over‐the‐counter (OTC) products containing synergized pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroid (permethrin), insecticides that target the neurologic system of the adult louse . However, widespread use of these compounds and their common site of action may be contributing to the development of resistance in lice, resulting in a progressive decline in the effectiveness of these products worldwide . Resistance to pyrethrin and pyrethroid insecticides has been increasing over the last 15 years, with recent reports demonstrating that the kdr‐ resistant allele was detected in 98.3% of 130 sampling sites from 48 U.S. states .…”

“…1 Louse infestation is estimated to affect 6-12 million people in the United States annually, primarily children aged 3-12. 2 Clinical effects of head louse infestation include excoriation and infection due to scratching, poor sleep, and social disruption. 3 The majority of head louse infestations are treated with over-thecounter (OTC) products containing synergized pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroid (permethrin), insecticides that target the neurologic system of the adult louse.…”

Impact of theory-based educational intervention on explaining preventive pediculosis infestation behavior among primary school students

“…Despite the fact that improved health, social, and economic situations have significantly affected the reduction of its infestation, this parasite is still spreading worldwide (4). Six to 12 million people have been annually infected with this parasite in the United States, and its treatment and control have spent approximately $367 million (1). Iran possesses the moderate outbreak of this infestation compared with other countries.…”

Control of Vector-Borne Human Parasitic Diseases

“…Infectious diseases transmitted by lice remain a public health concern in populations living in crowded and unsanitary conditions, a matter of great concern regarding refugee care. Sangaré et al [13] detail a state-of-the-art review on the “Management and Treatment of Human Lice,” which, like for many other vectors, have been highly affected by insecticide resistance.…”