Single blind, randomised, comparative study of the Bug Buster kit and over the counter pediculicide treatments against head lice in the United Kingdom

doi:10.1136/bmj.38537.468623.E0

BMJ 2005;331:384-387 (13 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.38537.468623.E0 (published 5 August 2005)

Primary care

Single blind, randomised, comparative study of the Bug Buster kit and over the counter pediculicide treatments against head lice in the United Kingdom

N Hill, head science officer¹, G Moor, research paediatric nurse¹, M M Cameron, lecturer¹, A Butlin, school nurse¹, S Preston, study nurse¹, M S Williamson, senior scientist², C Bass, research scientist²

¹ Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, ² Biological Chemistry Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ

Correspondence to: N Hill nigel.hill{at}lshtm.ac.uk

Objective To compare the effectiveness of the Bug Buster kitwith a single treatment of over the counter pediculicides foreliminating head lice.

Design Single blind, multicentre, randomised, comparative clinicalstudy.

Setting Four counties in England and one county in Scotland.

Participants 133 young people aged 2-15 years with head louseinfestation: 56 were allocated to the Bug Buster kit and 70to pediculicide treatment.

Interventions Home use of proprietary pediculicides (organophosphateor pyrethroid) or the Bug Buster kit.

Main outcome measure Presence of head lice 2-4 days after endof treatment: day 5 for the pediculicides and day 15 for theBug Buster kit.

Results The cure rate using the Bug Buster kit was significantlygreater than that for the pediculicides (57% v 13%; relativerisk 4.4, 95% confidence interval 2.3 to 8.5). Number neededto treat for the Bug Buster kit compared with the pediculicideswas 2.26.

Conclusion The Bug Buster kit was the most effective over thecounter treatment for head louse infestation in the communitywhen compared with pediculicides.

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