References

Prevalence of head lice

Downs, A.M.R., Stafford, K.A., Hunt, L.P. et al. (2002) Widespread insecticide resistance in head lice to the over-the-counter pediculocides in England, and the emergence of carbaryl resistance. British Journal of Dermatology 146(1), 88-93. Thomas, D.R, McCarroll, L., Roberts, R. et al. (2006) Surveillance of insecticide resistance in head lice using biochemical and molecular methods. Archives of Diseases in Childhood 91(9), 777-778.

Efficacy of detection combing

Balcioglu, C., Burgess, I.F., Limoncu, M.E. et al. (2008) Plastic detection comb better than visual screening for diagnosis of head louse infestation. Epidemiology and Infection 136(10), 1425-1431.

Resistance to pesticide agents

Downs, A.M.R., Stafford, K.A., Hunt, L.P. et al. (2002) Widespread insecticide resistance in head lice to the over-the-counter pediculocides in England, and the emergence of carbaryl resistance. British Journal of Dermatology 146(1), 88-93.

Efficacy of Malathion

Burgess, I.F., Lee, P.N. and Matlock, G. (2007) Randomised, controlled, assessor blind trial comparing 4% dimeticone lotion with 0.5% malathion liquid for head louse infestation. PLoS ONE 2(11), e1127.

Efficacy of Permethrin

Burgess IF, Lee PN, Brown CM. Randomised, controlled, parallel group clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of isopropyl myristate/cyclomethicone solution against head lice. Pharmaceutical Journal 2008; 280: 371-375.

Permethrin formulation not recommended by BNF

BNF 61 Page 741

Efficacy of Dimeticone

Ian F Burgess and Nazma A Burgess . Dimeticone 4% liquid gel found to kill all lice and eggs with a single 15 minute application. BMC Research Notes 2011, 4:15

Dimeticone as an alternative to products containing conventional pesticides

Drug & Therapeutics Bulletin Vol 45, No 7 July 2007

Efficacy of Octanediol

Burgess IF, Lee PN, Kay K, Jones R, Brunton ER (2012) 1,2-Octanediol, a Novel Surfactant, for Treating Head Louse Infestation: Identification of Activity, Formulation, and Randomised,Controlled Trials. PLoS ONE 7(4): e35419. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035419

Electronically aided devices may present safety risk

Stafford Report 2008, Public Health Medicine Environmental Group; 16

Efficacy of bug busting method

Roberts RJ, Casey D, Morgan DA, Petrovic M. Comparison of wet combing with malathion for treatment of head lice in the UK: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2000;356:540-4.

Hill N, Moor G, Cameron MM, et al. Single blind, randomised, comparative study of the Bug Buster kit and over the counter pediculicide treatments against head lice in the United Kingdom. British Medical Journal 2005,331:384-7.