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Vermont
What is the treatment for head lice?
The Vermont Department of Health district
offices have detailed information on safe treatment of head lice. This
treatment focuses on the importance of picking the nits out of the infected
person's hair and the use of over-the-counter treatments as recommended by the
primary care provider. Everyone in the household should be checked for lice and
nits, paying special attention to the scalp at the nape of the neck and behind
the ears.
Only treat those people in the household who have visible nits. Do not use
lice treatments as a preventive measure. Over-the-counter treatments may have
harmful effects. Lindane (Kwell is one brand name for Lindane) is not
recommended for infants, young children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.
http://www.state.vt.us/health/_hs/epidemiology/headlice/headlice.htm
Pediculocides Treatment:
All pediculocides are pesticides and must be used with caution. The
Vermont Department of Health does not recommend Lindane, sold under the brand
name of Kwell. Lindane has the highest potential toxicity of non-prescription
pediculocides, and is not recommended for infants, young children, pregnant or
lactating women(12). Lindane has been reportedly linked to central nervous
system toxicity.(7,8) Carefully follow the directions provided by the
manufacture of the product. No product is 100% effective against lice. It is
recommended that each infested person be retreated 7 to 10 days after the first
treatment. Any eggs which survived the first treatment will have hatched by 7 to
10 days and will be killed by the second treatment before they are mature enough
to lay more eggs.(3,5,8) Treatment should be considered only when active lice or
viable eggs are observed. Itching of the scalp, or the perception that something
is crawling on one’s head does not warrant treatment for lice in the absence
of their confirmed identification.(12) Check all family members for lice and
nits at least daily. Only those persons infested should be treated. Consult the
family physician before applying lice treatment pesticides. This is especially
important if the individual is pregnant, breast-feeding, an infant, has
allergies, asthma, or the lice or nits are in the eyebrows or eyelashes.
NON-PRESCRIPTION TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Generic Name1% PermethrinPyrethinsBrand NamesNIXRID, A-200, ETCApplication
time10 minutes10 minutes% Ovicidal70 - 80%70 - 80%Residual ActivityYesNoAdverse
PropertiesNonePossible allergic reaction from hayfever sufferersResistance
ReportedYesYes
Other Treatment Measures:
Insecticides: Spraying with pesticides is not recommended. Suffocating
Agents: An increasingly popular alternative treatment involves the use of
food-grade oils (i.e. – olive, mayonnaise) or hair gels in an attempt to
smother lice on the scalp. No studies are presently available to substantiate
the reliability of these treatments. Families should contact their family health
care provider for advice on these forms of remedies. Heat: Clothing, bedding
combs, brushes should be treated by washing in hot water (130oF for 20
minutes).(7) Cleaning: Head lice and their eggs soon perish if separated from
their human host. Removed lice survive just 1-2 days, and their eggs generally
lose viability within a week. Articles which cannot be laundered can be bagged
and isolated for 10 days or dry cleaned.(12) Vacuuming: Vacuuming will result in
a cleaner space, but is unlikely to facilitate the goal of eliminating the lice
from those residing in a home. A child’s car seat cover may benefit from
vacuuming, as a few stray lice or eggs may temporarily lodge there and survive a
day or so. Dispose of vacuum bags afterwards.(12) Freezing: Lice may be killed
by freezing articles for 72 hours.(11)
POSSIBLE RESISTANT HEAD LICE
Parents and health professionals nationwide have been reporting treatment
failures. To date, national and Vermont expert entomologists suggest that the
possibility of resistant lice needs to be studied further. They do indicate that
when lice are exposed repeatedly to the same pediculocides, resistance could
develop. No over-the-counter treatment is 100 % effective; thus, what may appear
as resistant lice could be attributed to treatment failure.(1,4,9,10,11,12)
The following are steps to take when treatment failure is suspected:
Family should contact their health care provider for further advice. A
prescription treatment may be recommended.
Discontinue treatment being used at earliest sign of treatment failure. Focus
should be on manual lice and nit removal.
Check all household members’ heads daily.
Do not use the same product for multiple treatments.
Do not resort to dangerous remedies such as Lindane, kerosene, gasoline,
or pet shampoos.
http://www.aapvt.org/vdh/licerecomend.html
Crop Profile for Corn (Field) in Vermont
http://pestdata.ncsu.edu/cropprofiles/docs/vtcorn-field.html
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