title: Albendazole: single or combination therapy with permethrin against pediculosis capitis.
abstract: Pediculosis capitis is a worldwide problem and a growing concern because of resistance to pediculicides. In the present study, we investigated whether albendazole could be used in the treatment of pediculosis capitis in combination with 1% permethrin or alone. A total of 150 children were randomly divided to five groups of 30 each. Group 1 got albendazole in a single dose (400 mg), group 2 got albendazole at 400 mg for 3 days, group 3 was given 1% permethrin, group 4 took 1% permethrin and albendazole in a single dose (400 mg), and group 5 got 1% permethrin and albendazole in a dose of 400 mg for 3 days. Groups given albendazole were also given another 400 mg dose of albendazole after 1 week. The success rate of treatment at the 2-week follow-up for all groups was 61.5%, 66.6%, 80.0%, 84.6%, and 82.1%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups. The results of this study suggest that albendazole is effective against pediculosis capitis and there is no synergistic effect between albendazole and 1% permethrin.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, Medical Faculty, Department of Parasitology, Izmir, Turkey. ciler.akisu@deu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ciler
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akisu
authors.forename: Songul Bayram
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Delibas
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aksoy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010374:Pediculus; D026023:Permethrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D026023:Permethrin; D015766:Albendazole