Brian Hiestand <hiestand.2 at pop.service.ohio-state.edu> wrote:
: In article <19961208.114312.93 at halmarax.demon.co.uk> Tony at halmarax.demon.co.uk (Tony Halmarack) writes:
: In article <19961208.114312.93 at halmarax.demon.co.uk> Tony at halmarax.demon.co.uk (Tony Halmarack) writes:
: >n.co.uk!Tony
: >From: Tony at halmarax.demon.co.uk (Tony Halmarack)
: >Newsgroups: bionet.toxicology
: >Subject: Head lice and Organo-phosphates.
: >Date: Sun, 08 Dec 1996 11:43:12 +0100
: >Organization: GooseIsland
: >Lines: 8
: >Message-ID: <19961208.114312.93 at halmarax.demon.co.uk>
: >Reply-To: Tony at halmarax.demon.co.uk: >NNTP-Posting-Host: halmarax.demon.co.uk
: >X-NNTP-Posting-Host: halmarax.demon.co.uk
: >X-Newsreader: Archimedes TTFN Version 0.36
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: >I live at a boarding school which my wife and daughter attend for various
: >reasons. For some time there has been a head-louse infestation, treated
: >with Organo-phosphates. I'm very unhappy with two aspects of this.
: >The use of these particular chemicals in the first place and the
: >ineffective piece-meal methods employed.
: >Please can anyone advise as to alternative treatments and procedures?
: >--
: >Tony Halmarack =*= Tony at halmarax.demon.co.uk
: Two alternatives currently in use in US (may be others, but these are common):
: 1. Nix (permethrin):paralyzes lice by disrupting sodium channels in nerve
: cells. Also ovicidal, persists in hair. Ususally only requires one
: treatment at 1% for lice, higher for scabies. Shampoo, rinse, towel dry,
: apply 1% solution, leave on for 10 min,rinse. We used this at Children's
: Hospital in Columbus OH for a patient discovered to have lice. Adverse
: effects usually limited to itching, stinging, or numbness in a small % of
: patients.
: 2. Kwell (lindane): kills adult lice, some ovicidal activity. More side
: effects, some resistance known. Adverse effects due to absorption through
: skin, secondary to too frquent application, prolonged application.
: In addition, bedding and clothes, esp hats, all need to be cleaned. To my
: understanding, regular detergents will do the job, but I am not sure about
: that. "Personal articles can be disinfested by washing in hot water and/or
: drying using the hot cycle of the dryer. Eggs are killed after five minutes
: at 51.5 C, or 30 minutes at 49.5 C; adults succumb to slightly lower
: temperatures. Combs can be disinfested by soaking for one hour in Lysol
: (saponated cresol solution) or heating in water to about 60 C for 5-10 min.
: Clothing or bedding that cannot be washed should be dry cleaned or selaed in a
: plastic bag for two weeks. Thorough vacuuming will suffice for living
: quarters.
: Malathion is the only organophosphate allowed for this use in the US, is one o
: fthe least toxic OP preparation, and is more ovicidal than Nix or Kwell. Odor
: is objectionable, and the lotion is flammable-no cigarretes, please!
: Source:American Medical Association Drug Evaluations Annual 1995
: Brian Hiestand
: MED 3
: OSU College of Medicine
