TY - JOUR
T1 - Repellency of citronella for head lice
T2 - Double-blind randomized trial of efficacy and safety
AU - Mumcuoglu, Kosta Y.
AU - Magdassi, Shlomo
AU - Miller, Jacqueline
AU - Ben-Ishai, Fiameta
AU - Zentner, Gary
AU - Helbin, Valery
AU - Friger, Michael
AU - Kahana, Frigita
AU - Ingber, Arieh
PY - 2004/12
Y1 - 2004/12
N2 - Background: Head lice move easily from head to head. The lack of safe, effective repellents leads to reinfestation. Objectives: To test the efficacy of a slow-release citronella formulation as a repellent against the head louse. Methods: During 4 months in 2003 a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind clinical study was conducted in four elementary schools; 103 children were treated with the test formulation and 95 with a placebo. Results: A significant difference was observed during the second examination 2 months later, when 12.0% of the children treated with the test repellent and 50.5% of those treated with placebo were infested with lice. A significant difference was also observed at the third examination 2 months later, when 12.4% of the children treated with the test repellent and 33.7% treated with placebo were infested. Overall, there were significant differences between those treated with the repellent and those treated with the placebo (15.4% and 55.1% respectively, P < 0.0001). Side effects were observed in 4.4% of children who disliked the odor of the formulation, and an additional 1.0% who complained of a slight itching and burning sensation. Conclusions: Use of an effective repellent could significantly lower the incidence of reinfestations, which would lower expenditure on lice control, including pediculicides, combs and products for nit removal, and the time spent on treatment and removal of the nits.
AB - Background: Head lice move easily from head to head. The lack of safe, effective repellents leads to reinfestation. Objectives: To test the efficacy of a slow-release citronella formulation as a repellent against the head louse. Methods: During 4 months in 2003 a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind clinical study was conducted in four elementary schools; 103 children were treated with the test formulation and 95 with a placebo. Results: A significant difference was observed during the second examination 2 months later, when 12.0% of the children treated with the test repellent and 50.5% of those treated with placebo were infested with lice. A significant difference was also observed at the third examination 2 months later, when 12.4% of the children treated with the test repellent and 33.7% treated with placebo were infested. Overall, there were significant differences between those treated with the repellent and those treated with the placebo (15.4% and 55.1% respectively, P < 0.0001). Side effects were observed in 4.4% of children who disliked the odor of the formulation, and an additional 1.0% who complained of a slight itching and burning sensation. Conclusions: Use of an effective repellent could significantly lower the incidence of reinfestations, which would lower expenditure on lice control, including pediculicides, combs and products for nit removal, and the time spent on treatment and removal of the nits.
KW - Citronella
KW - Double-blind clinical trial
KW - Pediculus humanus capitis
KW - Repellent
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=10644232324&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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C2 - 15609890
AN - SCOPUS:10644232324
SN - 1565-1088
VL - 6
SP - 756
EP - 759
JO - Israel Medical Association Journal
JF - Israel Medical Association Journal
IS - 12
ER -