METHOD OF COMBATTING HUMAN HEAD LICE

Abstract

The invention provides a method of treatment of a human subject to combat infestation by multicellular ectoparasites with exoskeletons, in particular head lice, which method comprises topically applying to said subject a first and a second pediculicide, said first pediculicide being a carbamate or organophosphate pediculicide and said second pediculicide being a pyrethroid or pyrethrin pediculicide, characterized in that said second pediculicide is applied between 15 minutes and 12 hours after the application of said first pediculicide.

Claims

1. A method of combatting infestation of a body having hair by multicellular ectoparasites with exoskeletons, the method comprising, in order: topically applying a first pediculicide composition to the hair; rinsing the hair; and topically applying a second pediculicide composition to the hair, the first pediculicide composition comprising malathion and the second pediculicide composition comprising permethrin, characterized in that the second pediculicide composition is applied between 15 minutes and 12 hours after the application of the first pediculicide composition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ectoparasites are head lice.

3. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the second pediculicide composition is applied between about 20 minutes and 4 hours after the application of the first pediculicide composition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pediculicide comprises 0.02 to 0.4 weight percent malathion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second pediculicide comprises 0.2% to 3% wt permethrin.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second pediculicide composition comprises 0.5% to 2% wt permethrin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second pediculicide composition comprises about 1% wt permethrin.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pediculicide composition is a shampoo and the second pediculicide composition is a cream rinse.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second pediculicide composition is a shampoo.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second pediculicide compositions are applied in the form of a solution, a cream, a gel, a cream rinse, a dispersion, a powder, a lotion, a spray, or an unguent, with at least one of the compositions being a shampoo or a cream rinse.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

Organophosphate Gel composition

[0031] Malathion in concentrated solution in isopropanol is added at 0.1% wt to a commercially available hair gel, e.g. Essentials Hair Gel from The Boots Company plc.

EXAMPLE 2

Pyrethroid Shampoo Composition

[0032] Permethrin is added at 1% wt to a commercially available shampoo, e.g. Head & Shoulders from Proctor & Gamble, or cream rinse/conditioner.

EXAMPLE 3

Head lice treatment kit

[0033] A kit is prepared comprising a paper box, a vial containing 30 mL of the composition of Example 1, a vial containing 30 mL of the composition of Example 2, and an insert carrying instructions for use.

EXAMPLE 4

Scalp Treatment

[0034] About 25 ml of the gel of Example 1 is massaged into the hair and scalp of a lice-infested schoolchild. After 30 minutes the hair is rinsed. After a further ninety minutes the hair is wetted and about 25 ml of the shampoo of Example 2 is rubbed into the hair to create a lather. The hair is rinsed after 10 minutes. The following day the hair is combed wet with a nit comb.

EXAMPLE 5

Trial

[0035] A 10 year old girl had for over 4 months used a 0.5% solution of malathion (Prioderm (Trade Mark) lotion from Mundipharma) to combat head lice without any significant clinical effect. This subject then used a 1% malathion shampoo (Prioderm (Trade Mark) shampoo from Mundipharma) for 30 minutes, washed her hair with water, then used a 1% permethrin shampoo (Nix (Trade Mark) shampoo (actually a cream rinse rather than strictly speaking a shampoo)from ACO HUD) for 10 minutes. This treatment was repeated after 7 days and head lice infestation was cured.