Acknowledged in the classic poem by Robert Burns, \u201cOde to a Louse,\u201d lice are definitely an unfortunate part of communal life, especially involving school attendance. But take hope. There is a new treatment available that has been a health boon for several reasons.<\/p>\n
With existing medicines for treating lice there are two major problems: resistance and allergy. Unfortunately, many species of head lice have developed resistance to the standard therapies; that is, they aren\u2019t killed by the once-effective therapies such as permethrin and pyrethrin. Second-line drugs such as lindane and malathion don\u2019t incur resistance, but their use is restricted due to safety concerns.<\/p>\n
The traditional therapies permethrin and pyrethrin are found in a variety of products, both over the counter and by prescription, (such as Nix). Their use, however, has always been difficult in allergic individuals because they cross-react with ragweed and can lead to skin rashes, hives and even asthma.<\/p>\n
The new therapy utilizes the drug Ivermectin in a topical hair lotion. Ivermectin has been used for many years in an oral form to treat a wide variety of intestinal worm infestations. Only recently did scientists think to try it in a topical form to treat lice. In a research study published in the New England Journal of Medicine<\/em> it was shown that a single 10-minute application was almost uniformly effective in eliminating the lice. Additionally, it was safe in individuals with allergies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Acknowledged in the classic poem by Robert Burns, \u201cOde to a Louse,\u201d lice are definitely an unfortunate part of communal life, especially involving school attendance. But take hope. There is a new treatment available that has been a health boon for several reasons. With existing medicines for treating lice there are two major problems: resistance and allergy. Unfortunately, many species of head lice have developed resistance to the standard therapies; that is, they aren\u2019t killed by the once-effective therapies such…<\/p>\n