Author/Authors :
FERRARA, Pietro Dept. of Paediatrics - A. Gemelli” University Hospital, Rome, Italy , DEL BUFALO, Francesca Service of Paediatrics - Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy , ROMANO, Valerio Dept. of Paediatrics - A. Gemelli” University Hospital, Rome, Italy , TIBERI, Eloisa Dept. of Paediatrics - A. Gemelli” University Hospital, Rome, Italy , BOTTARO, Giorgia Service of Paediatrics - Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy , ROMANI, Lorenza Service of Paediatrics - Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy , MALAMISURA, Monica Service of Paediatrics - Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy , IANNIELLO, Francesca Dept. of Paediatrics - A. Gemelli” University Hospital, Rome, Italy , CENI, Laura FAST - Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy , MOTTINI, Giovanni FAST - Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy , GATTO, Antonio FAST - Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
Abstract :
Background: We conducted a study to evaluate efficacy and safety of dimeticone 4%, a lotion with no conventional insecticide activity, to cure lice infection and to prevent spread of infestation/reinfestation by prophylaxis of class-mates.
Methods: The study is carried out between April 2008 and June 2008 in Petranova International Institute in Rome. A total of 131 children, aged 3 to 13 years (median age: 7 years) were included in the study. All participants received treatment with dimeticone 4% that was applied both to children with the infestation, to cure it, and to all classmates, to prevent the spreading of the infestation. They have been controlled after 7 and 30 days from the application of di-meticone.
Results: At baseline we found a positivity of lice infestation in 23/131 children (17.6%), whereas 108/131 (82.4%) children were free from lice. After 7 days of treatment with dimeticone 4%, 7/23 (30.4%) positive children still had lice infestation, with a cure rate of 69.6% (16/23). At 30 days 26/131 children (19.9%) were infested: 15 children were lice free at baseline whereas 11 had lice at both evaluations; the cure rate amounted to 52.2% (12/23). The reinfesta-tion rate (percentage of positive children that showed negativity at baseline) was 5.3% (7/131) at 7 days and 11.5% (15/131) at 30 days.
Conclusion: The lower reinfestation rate showed in our trial suggests that this approach could be effective in reduc-ing spreading of head lice in small communities. More studies are needed to confirm our findings
