Head lice infestation is a very common community-wide problem, affecting millions of young people in industrialised countries. In the UK, 58% of 7–8 year-olds were found to be infested.1 Trans-mission occurs from person to person between infested individuals and indirectly through hats, clothes, or pillowcases.2 Persistent infection leads to a variety of problems including secondary impetigo, pruritis, sleep disturbance and difficulty in concentration at school.
Pediculicides are the mainstay …