title: Comparing the Efficacy of Commercially Available Insecticide and Dimeticone based Solutions on Head Lice, Pediculus capitis: in vitro Trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Head lice infestation is a public health and social problem for almost all countries worldwide. For its treatment, insecticide and dimeticone-based solutions are currently available in the markets in many countries. We aimed to compare the efficacy of commercially available anti-head lice shampoos containing insecticide and physically effective products with different percentages of dimeticone using an in vitro technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Head lice specimens were collected from primary school children using special plastic and metal combs. Anti-head lice products were commercially purchased and used directly. The specimens were placed one by one in 5-cm Petri dishes containing a slightly wet filter paper and were kept in a plastic cage at 28±2°C and 50%±20% relative humidity. A standardized protocol was used for testing all the products, and mortality data were obtained after 24 h. Two control tests were performed with each batch of trials. For each product and control, 10-20 head lice specimens were used, and the results were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study demonstrated that among all the tested products, two products containing mineral oils [5.5% dimeticone & silicone (patented product) and dimeticone (no percentage mentioned in the prospectus) & cyclopentasiloxane] were found to be more effective for killing head lice in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physically effective products can be repetitively used because they are non-toxic and resistance to them is not expected. To control the infestation at a public level, the use of these products needs to be encouraged with respect to their cost price.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey. yusuf.ozbel@ege.edu.tr.
authors.forename: I Cüneyt
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Balcıoğlu
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karakuş
authors.forename: Suha K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Arserim
authors.forename: M Emin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Limoncu
authors.forename: Seray
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Töz
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baştemur
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Öncel
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Özbel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006203:Hair Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D010374:Pediculus; D012574:Schools; D012828:Silicones; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D006203:Hair Preparations; D007306:Insecticides; D012828:Silicones; C501844:dimethicone