The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved spinosad (Natroba Topical Suspension 0.9%, ParaPRO) for the treatment of head lice infestation in people aged 4 years and older.

Head lice (Pediculus capitis) are spread most often by close person-to-person contact. They are very common among schoolchildren in the United States — second only to the common cold among communicable diseases affecting schoolchildren, according to the Mayo Clinic.

A variety of topical over-the-counter medications and prescription medications are currently available to treat head lice.

“Natroba provides another option for the topical treatment of head lice infestations, which are especially prevalent in the pediatric population,”

Clinical Implications

• Unlike other medications for head lice, spinosad does not require combing through the hair, but the 10-minute, topical treatment should be used as part of an overall lice management program. If live lice are seen 7 days after the first treatment, the treatment should be repeated.
• The most commonly reported adverse events were application site redness in 3% of patients, eye redness and irritation in 2%, and application site irritation in 1%.
• The safety of spinosad in children younger than 4 years has not been established, and it should especially not be used in infants. Spinosad is a pregnancy category B medication and should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Caution should be used in nursing mothers.

Read more: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/736457?src=cmemp