Brief communication (Original). Controlling head lice in Iranian primary schools for girls

Background: In spite of large budgets for procurement and distribution of pediculicide shampoos, prevalence of pediculosis in girls’ primary schools continues.

Objective: To study the efficacy of the pediculicide shampoos lindane 1% and permethrin 1%, for pediculosis control among students.

Methods: One thousand forty two louse-infested schoolgirls in 31 girls’ primary schools were randomly treated with the shampoos (520 students with lindane 1% and 722 students with permethrin 1%). One hundred twenty five contaminated schoolgirls were treated with placebo shampoos. Efficacy of shampoos was studied after using twice with a one week interval. At the start, an educational pamphlet was distributed among all students discussing methods of prevention and directions for use of shampoos.

Results: We found that shampoo treatment resulted in only 52.9% overall recovery. With lindane, it was 50.96% and with permethrin 54.29%. The highest level of recovery was observed among primary school girls in grade five. Recovery in the central zone of the city and in private schools was better. Furthermore, the efficacy level of the shampoos was influenced by different factors such as parasite load, type of school, school location, level of education, level of awareness, and sociocultural factors.

Conclusion: Pediculicide shampoos are effective, but education and modification of sociocultural factors are also important.