Inpharma 1282 - 7 Apr 2001

■ Topical permethrin plus oral cotrimoxazole treatshead lice infestation more effectively than eithertreatment alone, according to the results of amulticentre, US-based study. 115 paediatric patientsaged 2–13 years were randomised to receivepermethrin 1% creme rinse [‘Nix’] with a repeatapplication after 1 week if necessary (group 1; n =39), oral cotrimoxazole [trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole] 5 mg/kg twice daily for 10 days(group 2; n = 36), or permethrin plus cotrimoxazole(group 3). At 2 weeks’ follow-up, treatment successrates for groups 1, 2 and 3 were 79.5, 83 and 95%,respectively.* Corresponding values at 4 weeks’follow-up were 72, 78 and 92.5%, respectively.* Treatment success was defined as the absence of adult lice andnymphal stage or eggs.

Hipolito RB, et al. Head lice infestation: single drug versus combinationtherapy with one percent permethrin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.Pediatrics Electronic Pages [serial online] 107: e30, 3 Mar 2001. Availablefrom: URL: http://www.pediatrics.org 800852885

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Inpharma 7 Apr 2001 No. 12821173-8324/10/1282-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved