Head Lice News and Research

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Head lice infestation is also called “Pediculosis capitis”. “Pediculosis” refers to louse infestation and “capitis” means the head.

Scientists discover weakness of human louse

Scientists have discovered the human louse's Achilles' heel which could lead to new treatments to rid us of body and head lice infestations.

23 Jun 2010

New study that describes sequencing and analysis of body louse genome published

A global research team led by scientists from the J. Craig Venter Institute today published a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describing the sequencing and analysis of the body louse genome. Lead author, Ewen Kirkness, Ph.D., JCVI, directed the sequencing and gene-finding efforts in the project. Detailed analysis of the genome was then conducted by a large international group of 71 scientists, coordinated by Barry Pittendrigh, University of Illinois, and Professor Evgeny Zdobnov, University of Geneva Medical School.

22 Jun 2010

Body lice and head lice have same origin

Body lice, which cause highly lethal epidemics (trench fever, typhus and relapsing fever Borrelia), originate from head lice. This has recently been shown by a team from the Emerging Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Unit (CNRS/IRD/Université de la Méditerranée), in collaboration with researchers from the Universities of Florida and Illinois (US).

26 Mar 2010

Manhattan Pharmaceuticals to merge with Ariston Pharmaceuticals

Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger and completed the merger transaction with Ariston Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held, specialty pharmaceutical company. As a result of the merger, Ariston became a wholly owned subsidiary of Manhattan Pharmaceuticals.

12 Mar 2010

Dermatologist addresses common parasitic infestations and latest treatment options at Academy Annual Meeting

If simply the thought of bedbugs, scabies and head lice makes you feel a little itchy, imagine how those affected by these common infestations feel when they learn what has been creeping around them and causing symptoms such as intense itching, red bite marks or irritated scalps.

5 Mar 2010

New non-neurotoxic treatment for head lice in children

A new non-neurotoxic treatment for head lice has been found to have an average of 91.2% treatment success rate after one week, and to be safe in humans from six months of age and up. This is the finding of a study published today in Pediatric Dermatology.

24 Feb 2010

Safe, natural ways to eliminate head lice: Hair Fairies salons offer free guidance

Hair Fairies, the head lice helpers, today reaffirmed its commitment to placing social conscience over short term profit. The nationwide Hair Fairies salons offer free guidance on safe, all natural ways to eliminate head lice. The Hair Fairies website offers a simple step-by-step "Do It Yourself" guide to head lice elimination. The company believes that the best way to beat the recession is to put the customer first. The Hair Fairies approach has drawn increasing media attention, both national and local. Hair Fairies will be featured on ABC 7 Chicago's "News This Morning" show on February 1.

30 Jan 2010

The Healthcounter.com offers over 1,400 health and beauty products

With a comprehensive range of over 1,400 health and beauty products, The Healthcounter.com also offers practical advice on topical health issues.

25 Nov 2009

PendoPharm introduces an all-natural treatment for head lice

PendoPharm, a division of Pharmascience Inc., is pleased to announce the availability in Canada of Zap(R), an all-natural treatment for head lice.

23 Oct 2009

Phase III clinical trial results demonstrate effectiveness of spinosad suspension

ParaPRO, LLC announced today the results of two Phase III clinical studies published online this month in the journal Pediatrics (Pediatrics 2009; 124:e389-e395) which concluded that a spinosad suspension was significantly more effective in eliminating head lice (pediculosis capitis) than permethrin.

30 Sep 2009

Campaign for prevention and control of head lice

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) announced today the kickoff of S.C.R.A.T.C.H. (School and Community Resources to Avoid and Take Control of Head Lice), a campaign to educate school nurses, students, parents and the general public about the prevention and control of head lice.

14 Sep 2009

MyHeadLiceTreatment.com launched by ParaPRO

Just in time for peak head lice season, ParaPRO, LLC has launched MyHeadLiceTreatment.com, a free, engaging and comprehensive “one-stop shop” about head lice. Treating head lice can be an issue. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate between 6 to 12 million cases of head lice infestations will occur this year - most in children 3 to 12 years old.

9 Sep 2009

Sodium chloride for treating head lice

At just 31 years of age, and with a first grader in tow, single mom Wendy Langley set out to take on the giants in the head lice industry. The reason? She couldn't, as she says, stand putting a popular but potentially toxic head lice treatment that "smelled like bug spray" on her kid's head to kill lice. Plus, she was constantly terrified the runny liquid would seep into her daughter's eyes.

4 Sep 2009

Banned toxic chemicals in Australian everyday products

Australia's leading consumer advocacy organisation CHOICE says an investigation has revealed that many chemicals freely available in Australia are no longer registered in Europe because of safety concerns.

13 May 2009

FDA approves Benzyl alcohol lotion for head lice

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new prescription medication for the treatment of head lice (Pediculosis capitis) infestation.

12 Apr 2009

Combing through a child's wet hair more accurate than visual inspection for identifying active head lice infestation

Combing through a child's wet hair may lead to more accurate identification of active head lice infestation than visual inspection, according to a report in the March issue of Archives of Dermatology.

16 Mar 2009

Bug busting approach to head lice

Working with parents and schools to provide a bug busting approach to head lice is helping to reduce infestation levels, tackle health inequalities and reduce healthcare costs, according to a review in the October issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing.

2 Oct 2007