We were impressed by the way in which Dawes et al. have sifted
through the evidence to identify the most appropriate treatment for head
lice1. Sadly the evidence base may not always identify ‘best practice'.
Randomised controlled trials rarely compare the patient's own labours with
the use of drugs. For head lice, personal experience suggests that the
repeated, painstaking combing out of lice and their eggs is an effective
treatment. It costs only the price of a decent comb and the parents' time.
The lice do not develop resistance even if the child may!
Yours faithfully,
Amanda Rowlatt
Economist, London SW13 0NN
Tim Heymann
Consultant Physician, Kingston Hospital, Surrey KT2 7QB
1 Dawes M, Hicks NR, Fleminger M, Goldman D, Hamling J, Hicks LJ.
Treatment for head lice. BMJ (1999) 318 385 - 386
Rapid Response:
Headlice
Editor,
We were impressed by the way in which Dawes et al. have sifted
through the evidence to identify the most appropriate treatment for head
lice1. Sadly the evidence base may not always identify ‘best practice'.
Randomised controlled trials rarely compare the patient's own labours with
the use of drugs. For head lice, personal experience suggests that the
repeated, painstaking combing out of lice and their eggs is an effective
treatment. It costs only the price of a decent comb and the parents' time.
The lice do not develop resistance even if the child may!
Yours faithfully,
Amanda Rowlatt
Economist, London SW13 0NN
Tim Heymann
Consultant Physician, Kingston Hospital, Surrey KT2 7QB
1 Dawes M, Hicks NR, Fleminger M, Goldman D, Hamling J, Hicks LJ.
Treatment for head lice. BMJ (1999) 318 385 - 386
Competing interests: No competing interests