Background

Head lice are common worldwide, especially in rural areas with lower incomes. They cause severe itching and can lead to infections that may have serious health effects. Ivermectin is effective against head lice and is also being tested for malaria prevention. This study looked at the causes of head lice and evaluated the effectiveness of using ivermectin to treat them.

Study Overview

We conducted a trial in Mopeia, Mozambique, where we gave a single dose of ivermectin to participants over three months during the rainy season. The control group received a different medication called albendazole. We examined the participants’ scalps to check for head lice and followed up with them at various intervals.

Results

Out of 1309 participants, we found that 11% had head lice at the beginning of the study. Key factors that increased the risk of having head lice included:

Living with someone who has itchy scalp (48 times more likely)
Being female (2.25 times more likely)
Using surface water as the main water source (2.37 times more likely)

Participants who received ivermectin had significantly lower chances of having head lice after three months compared to those who received albendazole.

Conclusions

Using ivermectin for three months greatly reduced head lice infestations in treated individuals. However, it did not help untreated children, indicating that more strategies are needed to stop the spread of head lice.