Malathion - Medical Use

Medical Use

Malathion in low doses (0.5% preparations) is used as a treatment for:

  • Head lice and body lice. Malathion and lindane are the only two agents approved by the FDA for treatment of pediculosis. It is claimed to effectively kill both the eggs and the adult lice, but in fact has been shown in UK studies to be only 36% effective on head lice, and less so on their eggs. This low efficiency was found when malathion was applied to lice found on schoolchildren in the Bristol area in the UK and it is assumed to be caused by the lice having developed resistance against malathion.
  • Scabies

Preparations include Derbac-M, Prioderm, Quellada-M and Ovide.

Read more about this topic:  Malathion

Famous quotes containing the word medical:

    “Homoeopathy is insignificant as an art of healing, but of great value as criticism on the hygeia or medical practice of the time.”
    —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    “Often, we expect too much [from a nanny]. We want someone like ourselves—bright, witty, responsible, loving, imaginative, patient, well-mannered, and cheerful. Also, we want her to be smart, but not so smart that she’s going to get bored in two months and leave us to go to medical school.”
    —Louise Lague (20th century)