Head lice cause social problems for patients as embarrassment, inflammation, skin irritation
and secondary bacterial infection. Treating head lice is difficult because of development of resistance
to drug. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the effect of titanium dioxide, Ivermectin
and Ivermectin-loaded on Titanium dioxide nanoparticles on head lice in vitro. This study was
conducted on 50 patients infected with head lice from Beni Suef Governorate. These patients
were of all age groups and both sexes.
Patients were 13 males and 37 females, with ages ranged from 5 to72years (26.84±19.3). They
were 34 rural residents, and 16 urban ones, 37 were at a low socioeconomic level and 13 at a
moderate socioeconomic one. Number of family members ranged from (3 to 11) with an average
of (6.42±1.9).
The results showed that mortality rate for topical Ivermectin (0.2% & 0.5%) was 86% & 94%,
respectively, against adult head lice, while 88% and 94%, respectively, against nymphs.
Regarding the effect of Titanium dioxide, the percentage mortality effects of Titanium dioxide
were 34, 58, & 100% at (2, 6, & 10 mg/L), respectively, against adult head lice, while Titanium
dioxide mortality rate was 40, 68 & 96% at (2, 6 &10 mg/L), respectively, against nymphs.