[Effective treatment of a patient infested with pediculus capitis by using 5% Indigofera suffruticosa Mill tincture].

BACKGROUND

Pediculosis capitis was very frequently reported in Cuba since the end of the 90's, particularly in some groups of school children and their relatives. The latter are involved in a chain of transmission of these insects and may play an important role at present as parasite reservoirs.

OBJECTIVE

to report on the efficacy of the treatment of one female patient suffering from Pediculus capitis by using 5 % Indigofera suffruticosa Mill (añil cimarrón) tincture.

METHODS

a case of persistent infestation with pediculosis capitis was described in which a 55 years-old patient was firstly treated with 1% permethrin solution and later with 5 % Indigofera suffruticosa Mill tincture.

RESULTS

the microscopic identification of adult parasites and pre-adult stages of the parasite confirmed the presence of pediculus capitis. The hair treatment with 1 % permethrin was not effective after two applications. As an alternative, 5 % Indigofera suffruticosa Mill tincture was used and then the population of adult ectoparasites was reduced and the infestation was eliminated after the second application, with the paramedical staff continuously taking the nits out from the patient's hair.

CONCLUSIONS

the use of this innocuous method may become a therapeutic alternative to treat this illness.