The start of a new school year is frequently accompanied by breakouts of head lice among pupils. This year comes with an unexpected remedy: ivermectin, the so-called anti-Covid-19 drug that was recommended by former US President Donald Trump.
During the pandemic, Trump repeatedly claimed that ivermectin – an antiparasitic agent mainly developed for livestock farming, such as to deworm horses – was a miracle cure against Covid-19. His advice was refuted by nearly all health experts. But whilst its efficacy against Covid-19 has been debunked, it is often used to get rid of scabies.
It now turns out to also be effective against lice, although experts are urging caution. "If I have a patient for whom nothing else helps, I sometimes prescribe it," dermatologist Thomas Maselis told De Morgen. "Depending on the weight of the patient, one or two pills of 3 milligrams can help. After ten days, we repeat the treatment and in many cases, the lice disappear."
'Wet comb method'
Sometimes the old methods are best and experts still recommend the wet comb in the first instance. The child's hair has to be washed and treated with a lot of conditioner (possibly with anti-lice shampoos and lotions). The first comb should be with a regular brush and then a very fine comb, as close to the scalp as possible.
However, lice have become resistant to many of the shampoos and lotions; many of the other remedies (such as essential oils or lice-resistant hair ties) are not scientifically substantiated. The "wet comb method" is still considered the go-to method.
For more stubborn cases, dermatologist Maselis usually recommends dimethicone, "a product that places a suffocating film around the lice." Only in more extreme cases should topical insecticides be considered. "If nothing else works, ivermectin is a last resort."
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However Maselis questioned the use of such a heavy drug, which "poisons" your blood with insecticide causing the lice to die after drinking it. "For me, it can only be a last resort. Even then, getting rid of lice is relative. As soon as the child comes into contact with other children who have lice, everything starts again."
While lice are itchy and uncomfortable, they pose no major health risks. Lice do not make people sick and do not transmit diseases. "Above all, we must ensure that the cure is not worse than the disease."
