Lice treatment

Each year millions of children are infested with head lice and it is responsible for tens of millions of lost school days.

Over the years, head lice have become more resistant to many of the currently used pediculicides and they are becoming harder to treat.

There are over the counter medications and prescription treatments for lice and all are somewhat effective but one common prescription medication has been taken off the market.

New methods are always being sought and in a recent article in the Pediatrics journal, a hot-air device was very effective.

This study showed a custom-built machine called the LouseBuster, resulted in nearly 100% mortality of eggs and 80% mortality of hatched lice, even when operated at a comfortable temperature (slightly cooler than a standard blow-dryer).



Virtually all subjects were cured of head lice when examined 1 week after treatment with the LouseBuster, and no adverse effects were observed.

The findings demonstrate that one 30-minute application of hot air has the potential to eradicate head lice infestations and hot air is an effective, safe treatment and one to which lice are unlikely to evolve resistance.

The LouseBuster could be an institutionally based machine operated by healthcare providers, school administrators, or trained parents or other volunteers and could help eliminate missed school days.

Improving absences means more money from the State and it could easily pay for itself with just a few treatments.