New clinical trial for prevention of head lice infection

A clinical trial has been registered researching the possibility of using a novel pediculicide to prevent, rather than remove, head lice infection.

The study, using the novel pediculicide octanediol, involves a randomised controlled double-blind in vivo trial of 1% octanediol solution versus placebo. Participants will be treated using either the octanediol solution or placebo and then monitored on a weekly basis for head lice infection over a six-week period. They will then be treated with a known pediculide to remove any infections which have occurred during this period before treatment with the other test solution and monitoring for another six-week period.

The trial started in October 2012 and is expected to run until late February 2013.