Ways of application and effectiveness of 1 % permethrin used by schoolchildren relatives for the control of pediculosis capitis

摘要

Background: Among the problems that influence on failure of pediculosis treatment is the way of application and low effectiveness of used products. Objectives: to find out, through surveys, the ways of application and the effectiveness of 1 % permethrin manufactured in Cuba for the control of pediculosis capitis. Methods: the questionnaires were distributed among people living with elementary schoolchildren, who had previously applied the products to children. The study was performed from May to July 2007 in urban and rural-urban schools located in City of Havana, Sancti Spiritus and Las Tunas provinces in Cuba. Results: Seven hundred and eighty six people were surveyed, 637 of them (81,17 %) did not follow the instructions given in the flask in applying the anti-pediculosis products, 579 (73,66 %) considered it as ineffective and only 143 (16,32 %) had used it as unique treatment. Conclusions: there is not any agreement in steps followed by these people during treatment. Responses were very heterogeneous because over 70 % of surveyed persons stated that permethrin was ineffective for treatment of pediculosis capitis