Nerve gas agent used to kill head lice

Photo by Gilles San Martin
Photo by Gilles San Martin
Parents are using a highly toxic nerve gas agent to treat head lice in children as young as 18 months.

Yesterday, the Dunedin-based National Poisons Centre issued a warning against the use of animal remedies to treat head lice in humans, particularly children.

Centre director Wayne Temple said these products contained highly toxic organophosphates, which were widely used as agricultural insecticides and as household pest control agents.

''The organophosphates are actually a form of nerve gas agent,'' he said, adding that a more potent type of the agent had been used in recent chemical attacks in Syria.

The animal remedies contained fenthion, which was 140 times more toxic than the low concentration approved for human use.

''You are starting to get much more toxic agents, and the skin and hair of an animal is completely different from that of a human.''

While symptoms were more severe and immediate after ingestion, the agents could be absorbed through the skin in a few hours.

Recorded symptoms following a toxic exposure to these agents included increased secretions of saliva, tears, mucus (predominantly from the lungs), vomiting, sweating and fluid bowel motions.

''Would you do that to your child?''

Dr Temple said if the products were used over a long term, ''you might get neurological problems''.

There had been 120 recorded cases over the past decade involving one particular popular brand of pet flea products on children as young as 18 months.

''I think it is a case of people trying it and saying `that is really good stuff', and then the word gets around,'' he said.

''People are obviously pretty good at getting hold of these things.''

The National Poisons Centre wanted to discourage people from using the products, and if users suffered symptoms following an exposure, they should seek prompt medical attention.

Only head lice treatment products approved for human use should be used.


Heads up
• Head lice are small insects about 2mm to 4mm long and about 1mm wide. They have six legs with claws and are usually a light or dark brown colour.

• Eggs (nits) are small and hard like a grain of salt and are yellow-white in colour. Eggs are usually found on the hair very close to the scalp. Those found further from the scalp than one to one and a-half centimetres from the scalp are probably dead or hatched.

• Infestation levels fluctuate for no apparent reason and sometimes head lice appear to be epidemic, while at other times they appear to be absent.

• Head lice do not jump but crawl from head to head, so do not share brushes, combs, hats and other items that come into contact with hair.

• Use a metal fine-toothed comb to comb hair, while fingernails can effectively remove eggs.

• The chemicals used in head lice treatment are insecticides and should be used with care and strictly as directed by the manufacturer.

SOURCE: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION


- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

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