title: [Effective treatment of a patient infested with pediculus capitis by using 5% Indigofera suffruticosa Mill tincture].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediculosis capitis was very frequently reported in Cuba since the end of the 90's, particularly in some groups of school children and their relatives. The latter are involved in a chain of transmission of these insects and may play an important role at present as parasite reservoirs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to report on the efficacy of the treatment of one female patient suffering from Pediculus capitis by using 5 % Indigofera suffruticosa Mill (añil cimarrón) tincture.
  
  
  METHODS
  a case of persistent infestation with pediculosis capitis was described in which a 55 years-old patient was firstly treated with 1% permethrin solution and later with 5 % Indigofera suffruticosa Mill tincture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the microscopic identification of adult parasites and pre-adult stages of the parasite confirmed the presence of pediculus capitis. The hair treatment with 1 % permethrin was not effective after two applications. As an alternative, 5 % Indigofera suffruticosa Mill tincture was used and then the population of adult ectoparasites was reduced and the infestation was eliminated after the second application, with the paramedical staff continuously taking the nits out from the patient's hair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the use of this innocuous method may become a therapeutic alternative to treat this illness.
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kourí", La Habana, Cuba. natividad@ipk.sld.cu
authors: Tamara
authors: T
authors: García Calixto
authors: M Elena
authors: ME
authors: Rodríguez Gonzalez
authors: M del Carmen
authors: Mdel C
authors: Pinera Wiltshire
authors: M Antonia
authors: MA
authors: Martínez Monier
authors: Yarina
authors: Y
authors: Santana Suárez
authors: Natividad
authors: N
authors: Hernández Contreras
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D029883:Indigofera; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010374:Pediculus; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts