head lice (treatment for pregnant women)
Last reviewed 01/2018
- permethrin - this is contraindicated in pregnancy and therefore should
not be used
- malathion - although this is not specifically contraindicated, as an organophosphate
the normal precautionary principle of prescribing in pregnancy should be applied
and it is probably not indicated for head lice which are an antisocial infestation
rather than a significant disease (1)
- nit combing is the treatment of choice (1)
- it is important to advise pregnant women to avoid 'natural' or 'herbal' head lice treatments. Many of their constituents have not been formally tested, and one in common use (rosemary oil) is known to cause premature abortion
The CKS website states that:
- for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, treat head lice with wet combing or dimeticone 4% lotion (2)
Reference:
- Pulse (2000), 60 (9), 128.
- CKS. Head lice (accessed 26/6/14)