Updated UK Head Lice Treatment Guidelines

The Public Health Medicine Environmental Group (PHMEG) has recently released updated guidelines for diagnosis, preventation and treatment of head lice infection. This is a revised version of the 2008 update.

The current guidelines recommend treatment of infection by either dimeticones, phenothrin or malathion according to patient or carer preference. A list of suitable products according to the British National Formulary 54 is given. Permethrin is not recommended for use.

The guidelines have been revised to take account of changes in legislation regarding treatment of lice infection in school, and the non-availability of carbaryl-based products. The literature review has not been updated.