Treatment of human lice

Insecticides used for the treatment of head lice include lindane, malathion, carbaryl, pyrethrum, piperonyl butoxide, permethrin, phenothrin, bioallethrin, and spinosad.

Many of the pediculicides in the market are either not fully effective or are ineffective when they are used according to the instructions.{{cite journal| last =Roberts | first =RJ |author2=Casey D |author3=Morgan DA |author4=Petrovic M |title =Comparison of Wet Combing With Malathion for Treatment of Head Lice in the UK: A Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial | journal =The Lancet | volume =356 | issue =9229 | pages =540–544

| publisher =Elsevier | location =Amsterdam | date =12 August 2000 | doi =10.1016/S0140-6736(00)02578-2 | pmid =10950230 | s2cid =9790264 }}{{cite journal| last =Mumcuoglu | first =KY |author2=Miller, J. | title =The Efficacy of Pediculicides in Israel | journal =Israel Journal of Medical Sciences | volume =27 | issue =10 | pages =562–565 | publisher =Weizmann Science Press | location =Jerusalem | date = October 1991 | pmid =1955310 }}{{cite journal| last =Vander Stichele | first =Robert H |author2=Dezeure Els M |author3=Bogaert Marc G. | title =Systematic Review of Clinical Efficacy of Topical Treatments for Head Lice | journal =British Medical Journal | volume =311 | issue =7005 | pages =604–608 | publisher =BMJ Publishing Group Ltd | location =London | date =2 September 1999 | url= | pmid =7545045| pmc =2550649 | doi =10.1136/bmj.311.7005.604 }}{{cite journal| last =Meinking | first =Terri L. |author2=Entzel, Pamela |author3=Villar, Maria Elena |author4=Vicaria, Maureen |author5=Lemard, Glendene A |author6= Porcelain, Sherri L. | title =Comparative Efficacy of Treatments for Pediculosis Capitis Infestations | journal =Archives of Dermatology | volume =137 | issue =3 | pages =287–292 | publisher =American Medical Association | location =Chicago | date =March 2001 | url =http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/137/3/287 | access-date =2008-01-03 | pmid =11255326 }} Pediculicides may rapidly lose their efficacy because of the development of resistance. Resistance of head lice to insecticides such as lindane, malathion, phenothrin and permethrin has been reported.{{cite journal | vauthors =Pollack RJ, Kiszewski A, Armstrong P, Hahn C, Wolfe N, Rahman HA, Laserson K, Telford SR, Spielman A | title =Differential Permethrin Susceptibility of Head Lice Sampled in the United States and Borneo | journal =Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine | volume =153 | issue =9 | pages =969–973 | publisher =American Medical Association | location =Chicago | date =September 1999 |pmid =10482215 | doi=10.1001/archpedi.153.9.969| doi-access = }}{{cite journal | last =Burkhart | first =Craig G. | title =Relationship of Treatment-Resistant Head Lice to the Safety and Efficacy of Pediculicides | journal =Mayo Clinic Proceedings | volume =79 | pages =661–666 | publisher =Mayo Clinic | location =Rochester, Minnesota | date =May 2004 | url =https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)62289-1/fulltext | access-date =8 February 2024 | doi =10.4065/79.5.661 | pmid =15132409 | issue =5 }}{{cite journal| last =Yoon | first =Kyong Sup |author2=Gao, Jian-Rong |author3=Lee, Si Hyeock |author4=Clark, J. Marshall |author5=Brown, Leon |author6= Taplin, David | title =Permethrin-Resistant Human Head Lice, Pediculus capitis, and Their Treatment| journal =Archives of Dermatology | volume =139 | issue =8 | pages =994–1000 | publisher =American Medical Association | location =Chicago | date =August 2003 | doi =10.1001/archderm.139.8.994| pmid =12925385 }}

A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis found that the mean frequency of pyrethroid resistance of lice was 77% globally, and even 100% in several countries (Australia, England, Israel, and Turkey). It concluded that treatment with current insecticides may not be effective and is likely the cause of increased levels of infestations.{{cite journal | last1=Mohammadi | first1=Jalal | last2=Azizi | first2=Kourosh | last3=Alipour | first3=Hamzeh | last4=Kalantari | first4=Mohsen | last5=Bagheri | first5=Masoumeh | last6=Shahriari-Namadi | first6=Marzieh | last7=Ebrahimi | first7=Saeedeh | last8=Moemenbellah-Fard | first8=Mohammad D. | title=Frequency of pyrethroid resistance in human head louse treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis | journal=Parasite| volume=28 | year=2021 | doi=10.1051/parasite/2021083 | page=86| pmid= 34935614| pmc=8693761}}

Ivermectin by mouth has been shown to reduce levels of louse infestation.{{cite journal |vauthors=Chosidow O, Giraudeau B, Cottrell J, etal |title=Oral ivermectin versus malathion lotion for difficult-to-treat head lice |journal=N. Engl. J. Med. |volume=362 |issue=10 |pages=896–905 |date=March 2010 |pmid=20220184 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa0905471 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Munirathinam A, Sunish IP, Rajendran R, Tyagi BK |title=Impact of ivermectin drug combinations on Pediculus humanus capitis infestation in primary schoolchildren of south Indian rural villages |journal=Int. J. Dermatol. |volume=48 |issue=11 |pages=1201–5 |date=November 2009 |pmid=20064176 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-4632.2008.04059.x |s2cid=33425444 }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Foucault C, Ranque S, Badiaga S, Rovery C, Raoult D, Brouqui P |title=Oral ivermectin in the treatment of body lice |journal=J. Infect. Dis. |volume=193 |issue=3 |pages=474–6 |date=February 2006 |pmid=16388498 |doi=10.1086/499279 |doi-access=free }} Ivermectin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pediculosis.{{cite web |url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/202736s000lbl.pdf |title=Highlights of Prescribing Information: Sklice (ivermectin) |website=fda.gov}}

Agents approved by the FDA for treatment of pediculosis include abametapir,{{cite web | title=Drug Trial Snapshot: Xeglyze | website=U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | date=24 July 2020 | url=https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/drug-trial-snapshot-xeglyze | access-date=6 August 2020}} topical ivermectin lotion, lindane, malathion, permethrin, and piperonyl butoxide with pyrethrins.{{cite book|author1=Amy J. McMichael|author2=Maria K. Hordinsky|title=Hair and Scalp Diseases: Medical, Surgical, and Cosmetic Treatments|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W-dT_21KZOIC&pg=PA289|access-date=27 April 2010|year=2008|publisher=Informa Health Care|isbn=978-1-57444-822-1|pages=289–}}{{update inline|reason=reference is 6 years old - is it still accurate?|date=July 2014}}

File:LouseBuster.JPG

A standard home blow dryer will kill 96.7% of eggs with proper technique.{{cite journal |last=Goates |first=Brad M. |author2=Atkin, Joseph S. |author3=Wilding, Kevin G. |author4=Birch, Kurtis G. |author5=Cottam, Michael R. |author6=Bush, Sarah E. |author7=Clayton, Dale H. |title=An Effective Nonchemical Treatment for Head Lice: A Lot of Hot Air |journal=Pediatrics |volume=118 |issue=5 |pages=1962–1970 |date=5 November 2006 |url=http://www.zoologia.hu/pediatrics.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011053939/http://www.zoologia.hu/pediatrics.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 October 2010 |access-date=2010-08-01 |doi=10.1542/peds.2005-1847 |pmid=17079567 |s2cid=9482708 }} To be effective, the blow dryer must be used repeatedly (every 1 to 7 days since eggs hatch in 7 to 10 days) until the natural life cycle of the lice is over (about 4 weeks).{{cite journal |date=2007-03-01 |title=Hot air for head lice |journal=Archives of Disease in Childhood |language=en |volume=92 |issue=3 |pages=241 |doi=10.1136/adc.2006.113431 |pmc=2083419}}

A number of commercial head lice treatment companies across the country offer a heated air treatment.

File:Adriaen Brouwer - The delousing.jpg]]

A special fine-toothed comb that can pick out lice is used. For a treatment with louse comb alone, it is recommended to comb the hair for an hour to an hour and a half (depending the length and type of the hair) daily or every second day for 14 days. Wetting the hair especially with water and shampoo or conditioner will facilitate the combing and the removal of lice, eggs and nits.{{cite journal| last =Abdel-Ghaffar | first =Fathy |author2 = Semmler, Margit | title =Efficacy of Neem Seed Extract Shampoo on Head Lice of Naturally Infected Humans in Egypt| journal =Parasitology Research | volume =100 | pages =329–332 | date =10 August 2006 | doi =10.1007/s00436-006-0264-2| pmid =16900389| issue =2 | s2cid =1826025 }}

{{cite journal | last =Mumcuoglu | first =Kosta Y. | title =Prevention and Treatment of Head Lice in Children | journal =Paediatric Drugs | volume =1 | issue =3 | pages =211–218 | date =July–September 1999 | pmid =10937452 | doi =10.2165/00128072-199901030-00005 | s2cid =13547569 }}

{{cite journal| last =Bingham | first =P |author2 = Kirk, S |author3=Hill, N |author4=Figueroa, J | title =The methodology and operation of a pilot randomized control trial of the effectiveness of the bug busting method against a single application insecticide product for head louse treatment| journal =Public Health | volume =114 | issue =4 | pages =265–268 | year =2000 | doi =10.1038/sj.ph.1900645| pmid =10962588 }}{{cite journal| last =Plastow | first =Liz |author2 = Luthra, Manjo|author3 =Powell, Roy|author4 =Wright, Judith|author5 =Russell, David|author6 =Marshall, Martin | title =Head lice infestation: bug busting vs. traditional treatment | journal =Journal of Clinical Nursing | volume =10 | issue =6 | pages =775–783 | date =April 2001 | pmid =11822849 | doi=10.1111/j.1365-2702.2001.00541.x}}

Electronic louse combs use a small electrical charge to kill lice. The metal teeth of the comb have alternating positively and negatively charged tines, which are powered by a small battery. When the comb is used on dry hair, lice make contact with multiple tines of the fine-toothed comb, thereby closing the circuit and receiving an electrical charge. A non-peer-reviewed letter has been published in a dermatology journal claiming effectiveness based on personal experience (total of 6 uses).{{cite journal | last =Resnik | first =Kenneth | title =A non-chemical therapeutic modality for head lice | journal =Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology | volume =52 | issue =2 | page =374 | date =February 2005 | doi =10.1016/j.jaad.2004.07.032 |pmid =15692498}}

Shaving the head or cutting the hair extremely short can be used to control lice infestation. Short hair, baldness, or a shaven scalp are generally seen as a preventive measure against louse infestation. This will also eliminate – particularly if maintained for the length of the parasites' reproductive cycle – louse infestation.

Infestation with lice is not a serious disease and the medical symptoms are normally minimal. In any case, health providers and parents should try not to create emotional problems for children during examination and treatment.{{cite journal| last =Mumcuoglu | first =Kosta Y.| title =Head Lice in Drawings of Kindergarten Children | journal =The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences | volume =28 | pages =25–32 | year =1991| issue =1| pmid =1860777}}

Shaving of the area above and behind the ears and the upper part of the neck while leaving the crown of the head with hair is commonly used to prevent lice among tribes in Africa, Asia, and America (in America – Mohawk style).{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

File:Fig. 5. Louse nits.jpg

{{Main|No nit policy}}

Schools in the United States, Canada, and Australia commonly exclude infested students, and prevent return of those students until all lice, eggs, and nits are removed.{{cite journal |last = Mumcuoglu |first = Kosta Y. |author2=Meinking, Terri A |author3=Burkhart, Craig N |author4=Burkhart, Craig G. |year = 2006 |title = Head Louse Infestations: The "No Nit" Policy and Its Consequences |journal = International Journal of Dermatology |volume = 45 |issue = 8 |pages = 891–896 |pmid = 16911370 |doi =10.1111/j.1365-4632.2006.02827.x|s2cid = 38910169 }}

This is the basis of the "no-nit policy". Data from a primarily American study during 1998–1999 found that no-nit policies were present at 82% of the schools attended by children suspected of louse infestation.{{cite journal |vauthors=Pollack RJ, Kiszewski AE, Spielman A | title = Overdiagnosis and consequent mismanagement of head louse infestations in North America | journal = The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal | volume = 19 |issue = 8 | pages = 689–93 | year = 2000 | pmid = 10959734 | doi=10.1097/00006454-200008000-00003| s2cid = 2557006 }} A separate 1998 survey revealed that 60% of American school nurses felt that "forced absenteeism of any child who has any nits in their hair is a good idea."{{cite journal |vauthors=Price JH, Burkhart CN, Burkhart CG, Islam R | title = School nurses' perceptions of and experiences with head lice |journal = The Journal of School Health |volume = 69 |issue = 4 |pages = 153–8 |date=April 1999 |pmid = 10354985 |doi = 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1999.tb04174.x}}

A number of health researchers and organizations object to the no-nit policy.{{cite journal |last=Frankowski |first=Barbara L. |author2= Leonard B. Weiner |author3= the Committee on School Health |author4=the Committee on Infectious Diseases |date= September 2002 |title= Head Lice: American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report |journal= Pediatrics |volume= 110 |issue= 3 |pages= 638–643 |doi=10.1542/peds.110.3.638 |issn = 0031-4005 |pmid= 12205271 |s2cid=245074002 |url= http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;110/3/638 |access-date= 2008-10-10 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081013083549/http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;110/3/638 |archive-date = 2008-10-13 }}

{{cite journal |last = Frankowski |first = Barbara L. |date = September 2004 |title = American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for the prevention and treatment of head lice infestation |journal = The American Journal of Managed Care |volume = 10 |issue = 9 |pages = S269–S272 |pmid = 15515631 |url = http://www.ajmc.com/article.cfm?ID=2704&CFID=14635274&CFTOKEN=65325173 |access-date = 2008-10-10 |archive-date = 2009-01-23 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090123173619/http://www.ajmc.com/article.cfm?ID=2704&CFID=14635274&CFTOKEN=65325173 |url-status = dead }}{{cite web |url = http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=237 |title = Pediculosis in the School Community: Position Statement |access-date = 2008-10-10 |date = July 2004 |publisher = National Association of School Nurses |location = Silver Spring, Maryland |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070713092913/http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=237 |archive-date = 2007-07-13 |url-status = live }} Opponents to the no-nit policy mention that visible nits may only be empty egg casings which pose no concern as transmission can only occur via live lice or eggs. This has led to the perception that the no-nit policy serves only to ease the workload of school nurses and punish the parents of infested children.

Proponents of the no-nit policy counter that only a consistently nit-free child can be reliably shown to be infestation-free.{{cite web |url = http://www.headlice.org/downloads/nonitpolicy.htm |title = NPA's No Nit Policy: A Healthy Standard for Children and their Families |access-date = 8 February 2024 |date= 2008 |publisher = The National Pediculosis Association |website=headlice.org}}

That is, the presence of nits serves as an indirect proxy for infestation status. Proponents argue that such a proxy is necessary because lice screening is prone to false negative conclusions (i.e., failure to find lice present on actively infested children).{{Cite book |title = Staying Healthy in Child Care: Preventing infectious diseases in child care |author = National Health and Medical Research Council |publisher = Commonwealth of Australia |date=December 2005 |edition = 4th |url = https://nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/staying-healthy-preventing-infectious-diseases-early-childhood-education-and-care-services| isbn = 978-0-642-45631-1}}

For example, a 1998 Israeli study found that 76% of live lice infestations were missed by visual inspection (as verified by subsequent combing methods).{{cite journal |vauthors = Mumcuoglu KY, Friger M, Ioffe-Uspensky I, Ben-Ishai F, Miller J |title = Louse comb versus direct visual examination for the diagnosis of head louse infestations |journal = Pediatric Dermatology |volume = 18 |issue = 1 |pages = 9–12 |year = 2001 |pmid = 11207962 |doi = 10.1046/j.1525-1470.2001.018001009.x |s2cid = 27464495 }}{{cite journal |author = Hootman J |title = Quality improvement projects related to pediculosis management |journal = The Journal of School Nursing | volume = 18 |issue = 2 |pages = 80–6 |date=April 2002 |pmid = 12017250 |doi = 10.1177/10598405020180020401 |s2cid = 29291526 }}

Although lice cannot fly or jump, they are fast and agile in their native environment (i.e., clinging to hairs near the warmth of the scalp), and will try to avoid the light used during inspection.{{cite journal |author = Bacot A |title = Contributions to the bionomics of Pediculus humanus (vestimenti) and Pediculus capitis |journal = Parasitology |volume = 9 |pages = 228–258 |year = 1917 |doi = 10.1017/S0031182000006065 |issue = 2|s2cid = 86846228 }}{{cite journal |last = Nuttall |first = George H. F. |author-link = George Nuttall |title = The biology of Pediculus humanus, Supplementary notes |journal = Parasitology |volume = 11 |issue = 2 |pages = 201–221 |year = 1919 |doi = 10.1017/S0031182000004194|s2cid = 251061971 | url = https://zenodo.org/record/1428634 }}

Louse colonies are also sparse (often fewer than 10 lice), which can contribute to difficulty in finding live specimens.{{cite journal |vauthors=Mumcuoglu KY, Miller J, Gofin R, etal | title = Epidemiological studies on head lice infestation in Israel. I. Parasitological examination of children |journal = International Journal of Dermatology |volume = 29 |issue = 7 |pages = 502–6 |date=September 1990 |doi =10.1111/j.1365-4362.1990.tb04845.x |pmid = 2228380| s2cid = 39798857 }} Further, lice populations consist predominantly of immature nymphs,{{cite book |last = Buxton |first = Patrick A. |title = The Louse; an account of the lice which infest man, their medical importance and control |edition = 2nd |publisher = Edward Arnold |location = London |pages = 24–72 |chapter = The biology of Pediculus humanus |year = 1947 |oclc=1533520}}

which are even smaller and harder to detect than adult lice.

Tea tree oil has been promoted as a treatment for head lice; however, evidence of its effectiveness is weak.{{cite journal|first=Tillmann|last=Jacobi|title=The Basics – The management of head lice|journal=GP|date=22 September 2011|quote=All in all, the evidence for alternative treatments, such as tea tree oil and neem seed oil, remains weak.|url=http://www.gponline.com/Clinical/article/1092178/Basics---management-head-lice/|page=38}}{{cite web | url = https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tea-tree-oil | title = Tea tree oil | publisher = National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health |access-date=8 February 2024}} A 2012 review of head lice treatment recommended against the use of tea tree oil for children because it could cause skin irritation or allergic reactions, because of contraindications, and because of a lack of knowledge about the oil's safety and effectiveness.{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.pedhc.2012.05.004|title=Advancements in the Treatment of Head Lice in Pediatrics|year=2012|last1=Eisenhower|first1=Christine|last2=Farrington|first2=Elizabeth Anne|journal=Journal of Pediatric Health Care|volume=26|issue=6|pages=451–61; quiz 462–4|pmid=23099312}} Other home remedies such as putting vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, olive oil, mayonnaise, or melted butter in the hair have been partially disproven,{{cite journal|url=http://www.pediatricnursing.org/article/S0882-5963(04)00139-3/abstract |title=Elsevier |journal=Journal of Pediatric Nursing: Nursing Care of Children and Families |date=December 2004 |volume=19 |issue=6 |pages=393–398 |publisher=Pediatricnursing.org |doi=10.1016/j.pedn.2004.11.002 |access-date=2012-11-22|last1=Takano-Lee |first1=Miwa |last2=Edman |first2=John D. |last3=Mullens |first3=Bradley A. |last4=Clark |first4=John M. |pmid=15637580 }} The use of plastic bags may be dangerous.{{cite news | title = Massachusetts toddler dies after lice treatment goes awry | url = https://news.yahoo.com/massachusetts-toddler-dies-lice-treatment-goes-awry-145850119.html | publisher = Yahoo News/Reuters | date = 5 February 2015}} Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that swimming has no effect on treating lice, and can in fact harm the treatment by commercial products.{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/swimmers/rwi/other-infections.html |title=Healthy Water: Healthy Swimming: Lice, Pinworms, and MRSA |date=16 May 2022 |publisher=Cdc.gov |access-date=8 February 2024}} Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, common alcohol) is toxic to arthropods including lice and an external application of it is harmless to humans.{{cite book |first=John F |last=Marriott |date=2010 |title=Pharmaceutical Compounding and Dispensing |pages=77 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J5vE3Z_ZXJcC&q=lice&pg=PA77 |quote=ALCOHOL. After water, this is probably the next most important solvent used pharmaceutically. Although ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is rarely used as a lone solvent for preparations for internal use, it is used in the manufacture of some of the galenicals used in pharmacy (e.g. tinctures, see Chapter 2). In extemporaneous dispensing it is normally used for the production of lotions for external application to unbroken skin. It is particularly useful if rapid evaporation is required (e.g. for insecticidal lotions applied to hair for the treatment of lice)... |edition=2nd |isbn=9780853699125 |oclc=640077286 |publisher=Pharmaceutical Press}}{{cite journal |last1=Szinwelski |first1=N |last2=Fialho |first2=V. S. |last3=Yotoko |first3=K. S. C. |first4=Seleme |last4=L. R. |first5=Sperber |last5=C. F. |date=2012 |title=Ethanol fuel improves arthropod capture in pitfall traps and preserves DNA |journal=ZooKeys |issue=196 |pages=11–22 |doi=10.3897/zookeys.196.3130 |doi-access=free |pmid=22679388 |pmc=3361084 |bibcode=2012ZooK..196...11S |quote=...It has been shown that at concentrations higher than 95%, commercial alcohol preserves DNA (Nagy 2010), but the use of highly concentrated commercial alcohol as a killing solution may be prohibitively expensive when needed in large quantities, such as in large-scale biodiversity sampling. In Brazil, for example, it is illegal to carry large amounts of commercial alcohol on long journeys, which could hinder its use in extensive field expeditions. Here we propose the use of ethanol fuel as a cheaper and logistically feasible alternative...}}

{{cite web |url=http://sap.org.ar/docs/publicaciones/pediculosis.pdf |website=Sociedad Argentina de Pediatria |title=Actualización en pediculosis capitis |quote=La cuasia amarga (palo amargo) se extrae de un arbusto que crece en el norte de la Argentina. El principio activo que se extrae de la madera es la cuasina y químicamente es un hidrocarburo soluble en alcohol. Popularmente se lo usa como repelente de piojos y como pediculicida. Es efectiva únicamente en solución alcohólica y no en solución acuosa. Así es tan efectiva como una solución pura de alcohol por lo cual se duda de su efecto pediculicida “per sé” y es irritativa |language=es}}

The use of kerosene or gasoline for prevention or treatment of lice is dangerous due to the inherent fire hazard.{{cite news|publisher=The Mercury News|title=Indiana teenager burned trying to kill head lice with gasoline |date=26 February 2009 |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2009/02/26/indiana-teenager-burned-trying-to-kill-head-lice-with-gasoline/}} Since 1989, there have been at least nine cases of children being severely burned during such attempts. These cases apparently occurred because, contrary to popular belief, it is the fumes of the gasoline, rather than the liquid itself, that are flammable. These fumes can ignite due to the presence of even a small spark or open flame - such as those caused by electrical appliances, cigarette lighters, or pilot lights in stoves and water heaters. The use of gasoline to treat lice also carries a high risk of dermatitis (i.e. irritation of the scalp).{{cite web |url=http://www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/lice.asp |title=Is Gasoline a Recommended Treatment for Getting Rid of Lice? |website=Snopes |first=Barbara |last=Mikkelson |date=26 February 2009}}

Before gasoline (Petrol) was used as fuel, it was sold in small bottles as a treatment against lice and their eggs.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} At that time, the word Petrol was a trade name.

{{cite web |url= http://www.vintagegarage.co.uk/histories/carless%20capel%20&%20leonard.htm |title= History of Carless, Capel & Leonard |date= 2008 |website= Vintage Garage |access-date=2014-12-28 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141229034101/http://www.vintagegarage.co.uk/histories/carless%20capel%20%26%20leonard.htm |archive-date = 29 December 2014}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |date=17 May 2016 |title=Head lice and nits |publisher=NHS |url=http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Head-lice/Pages/Treatment.aspx |access-date=8 February 2024}}

• [https://www.cdc.gov/lice/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Division of Parasitic Diseases]
• [http://www.medicinenet.com/head_lice/article.htm MedicineNet.com: Head Lice Infestation (Pediculosis)]
• [http://www.headlice.org National Pediculosis Association]

{{Human lice}}

{{Ectoparasiticides}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Treatment Of Human Head Lice}}

Category:Lice

Category:Medical treatments