The near future of head louse control

Infestation with head lice is a worldwide public health concern. In high income countries pediculosis capitis is a problem mainly in school-aged children. In the last two decades and mainly as a result of resistance to pediculicides with a neurotoxic mode of action and due to the toxicological concerns, a new trend to products acting by physical means such as dimethicone, has been observed. It was shown that these substances are capable of entering the tracheal system and asphyxiating the lice and their eggs. Due to this quality it could be expected that lice, if at all, could not easily develop resistance. Dimethicone is a cosmetically acceptable product, physiologically inert and non-toxic and therefore it is expected to become the treatment-of-choice for lice in the near future