A new drug for head lice

Head lice are a very common problem in North America and affect many children each year. For years, toxic prescription drugs have been available but now there is a study showing that benzyl alcohol lotion (BAL 5%) is non toxic to the human and can kill lice by suffocating them. This formula may be excellent for use in babies as young as 6 months.

To date lindane has been used but the drug is very toxic and there are always problems with potential brain side effects. Moreover, lice have developed resistance to many other permethrin related compounds.

Other alternatives for head lice which are widely used include mayonnaise, olive oil or petroleum jelly. These homemade remedies all act by suffocating the lice but do not always work as lice are hardy and go into hibernation. As soon as these oils are rinsed, the lice come alive.

In the latest study, BAL 5% applied twice a day for 10 minutes, was well tolerated and without toxicity. The only side effects were mild skin and eye irritation. This is marked contrast to drugs like lindane which cause stinging on skin areas which have been scratched.

So far all experts agree that BAL 5% is a great alternative. The only problem is how much to apply on the head and at what frequency. Researchers say the chemical should be used twice as some eggs may still be viable after the first application.

BAL 5% is only available with a prescription and may not be covered by health insurance or Medicare.