Evaluation of Efficiency of Ivermectin Lotion in Comparison with Permethrin Shampoo and Dimethicone Lotion for Treatment of Head Lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) in Areas Covered by Health Centers of Islamshahr City, Tehran, Iran in 2019

BACKGROUND: Head lice infestation is known as a serious health problem in developing and developed countries. The prevalence of pediculosis in children and females is higher than others. The infestation may cause the absence of student from school and make their parents upset. The aim of current study was to evaluate the WHO recommended insecticides for control of head lice in Islamshahr health center. METHODS: In the current study infested individuals were older than 6 years old and have been diagnosed with at least 3 head lice adult and 10 live nits from less than 0.7 cm scalp. The pediculicides was applied randomly among groups. Permethrin shampoo as a golden standard was used. Dimethicone lotion 4% and Ivermectin lotion was compared with it. This study was conducted on 179 infested people. Results of infestation were evaluated after one month of intervention. Different indicators such as: present of head lice adult or live nit, redness and irritation in head skin were invested. RESULTS: All the participants were female and 72.6% of them were in the age group of 6–11. The result revealed that aging not only decreases the infection rate but also raised the recovery percentage. The results showed that 79.5% permethrin receiver, 83% of people who treated with Dimethicone lotion and 90.6% of Ivermectin receiver had no head lice. There was no significant difference among these three pediculicides. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference among tested pediculicides. An appropriate pediculicide can be selected by training people.