Cocamide DEA vs Permethrin for Head Lice

July 14, 2015 updated by: Ian F Burgess, Medical Entomology Centre

A Randomised, Controlled, Assessor-blind, Parallel Group Clinical Trial to Assess the Efficacy, Safety and Acceptability of a Surfactant Based Lotion and a Permethrin Creme Rinse in the Treatment of Head Lice

To assess the efficacy and safety of 10% Cocamide DEA and Lyclear creme rinse (permethrin1%) in the eradication of head lice. To assess the ability of each product to kill all viable ova and to assess patient acceptability of the product in use.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

A formulation of cocamide diethanolamine (DEA) surfactant was previously reported as showing efficacy to eliminate head louse infestation. This study has been designed to test those data using a new formulation of 10% cocamide DEA in an aqueous basis in comparison with the standard of care product 1% permethrin creme rinse. It is believed that surfactants like cocamide DEA are capable of eliminating lice resistant to conventional insecticides.

A planned total of 120 patients who, following examination, are found to suffer from active head lice infestation will be recruited to the trial. The patient will be treated with the appropriate product according to the randomization code from a pre-prepared listing in balanced blocks of 12.

10% Cocamide DEA is applied directly to dry hair and is washed off with shampoo after 60 minutes. Permethrin 1% creme rinse is applied to shampooed and towel dried hair and left in situ for 10 minutes, then rinsed off with clean water. Treatments will be applied by experienced investigators throughout the study. Assessments will be made by other investigators unaware of the treatment regimen used.

After treatment (day 0), follow up assessments will be performed on days 4, 7,10 then again at day 14 after which they will leave the study. Any adverse events or side effects from the treatments will be monitored during the study.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

44

Phase

  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB25 9AU
        • Medical Entomology Centre

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

6 months and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male and female patients over the age of 4 who are found to have a head lice infection.
  • Patients who give written informed consent or, if the patient is under 16 years of age, whose guardian gives written informed consent to participate in the study.
  • Available for the duration of study i.e. 15 days.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with a known sensitivity to pyrethroid, organophosphate, and/or carbamate insecticides, sensitivity to chrysanthemums and/or known sensitivity to paraben preservatives.
  • Patients who have been treated with other head lice products within the last 4 weeks.
  • Patients who have undergone a course of antibiotic treatment within the last 4 weeks.
  • Patients who have any persistent skin disorder of the scalp (i.e. eczema, chronic dermatitis, psoriasis).
  • Patients with asthma
  • Patients whose hair has been bleached, colour treated or permed within the last 4 weeks.
  • Pregnant or nursing mothers.
  • Patients who have participated in another clinical trial within 1 month prior to entry to this study.
  • Patients who have already participated in this clinical trial.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 10% Cocamide diethanolamine
10% Cocamide DEA aqueous lotion is applied directly to dry hair on a single occasion and is washed off with shampoo after 60 minutes.
Topical lotion
Other Names:
  • Lauramine diethanolamine
Active Comparator: 1% permethrin creme rinse
1% permethrin creme rinse is applied to shampooed and towel dried hair on a single occasion and left in situ for 10 minutes, then rinsed off with clean water.
Topical creme rinse

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Elimination of infestation
Time Frame: 14 days
No evidence of active head lice infestation 14 days after enrolment.
14 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The number of participants with treatment related adverse events as a measure of safety
Time Frame: 14 days
No treatment related adverse events following treatment
14 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ian F Burgess, Medical Entomology Centre

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

July 1, 1998

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 1999

Study Completion (Actual)

January 1, 1999

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 10, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 14, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

July 16, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

July 16, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 14, 2015

Last Verified

July 1, 2015

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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