New Online Survey Reveals Some Health Care Providers Continue to Recommend OTC Head Lice Treatment Despite Reporting Cases of Ineffectiveness

Survey also highlights the need for conversations between parents and HCPs about head lice management and treatment

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Aug 07, 2017, 08:08 ET

ATLANTA, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Results of the new "Facts of Lice" online survey of 1,000 millennial moms (ages 18-35) and 350 pediatric health care providers released today suggest that some millennial moms may be receiving mixed messages about managing head lice. Ninety-five percent of health care providers (HCPs) surveyed said over-the-counter (OTC) treatments did not effectively eliminate head lice infestations. Still, the majority (51 percent) of HCPs continue to recommend OTC treatments as a first-line option for their patients.¹ The survey was conducted by ORC International on behalf of Arbor Pharmaceuticals.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8124151-sklice-facts-of-lice-survey/

Millennial moms reported similar experiences, with 71 percent of those surveyed who had experienced head lice in their households reporting they had failed to treat the condition successfully.² In fact, when asked about their treatment experiences, 46 percent of moms surveyed said they were most fearful of a recurrence while 40 percent expressed doubts that they were thorough enough in removing the lice or nits from their family members.²

"Navigating a head lice diagnosis may feel frustrating and overwhelming for many parents, especially if their child has required multiple rounds of treatment due to a recurring infestation," said Wendy L. Wright, nurse practitioner and owner of Wright & Associates Family Healthcare. "With the new school year approaching, parents should get to know the facts about head lice management so that they feel empowered to partner with their health care provider and have a frank discussion about treatment options."

Findings also demonstrated that moms would go to extreme lengths to avoid head lice in their homes. Head lice are considered so bothersome that 71 percent of the 1,000 moms surveyed cleaned everything in the house. Over half of moms say that if given the option, they would rather give up chocolate (53 percent), wine (52 percent) and coffee (50 percent) for a week than experience head lice.²

"The findings from this survey give us insight into the perceptions and concerns of some parents who are battling a head lice infestation in their household," said Ed Schutter, president and CEO, Arbor Pharmaceuticals. "We are committed to serving as a resource for the families who are fighting this widespread, equal opportunity condition and ensuring they are armed with the information they need."

While head lice are not dangerous and do not carry any diseases,³ the survey illustrates the social and emotional impact the condition can have. Almost all (97 percent) millennial moms surveyed say they worry about the consequences of head lice on their children and households, including lost time at school (58 percent), inconvenience of an infestation (49 percent), fear of their child being bullied (45 percent), personal anxiety resulting from social stigma associated with the condition (44 percent), criticism from other parents (39 percent), ruined clothing or property (27 percent) and their own lost time at work (24 percent).² Furthermore, 77 percent of moms surveyed say that their child was negatively affected, either socially, mentally, and/or physically, by having head lice.²

The Facts of Lice survey findings highlight the need for effective conversations between parents and HCPs about head lice management. To address these findings, Arbor Pharmaceuticals has developed educational resources to ensure moms are armed with tools to encourage conversations with their child's doctor and help inform their understanding of how to get a head lice infestation under control. Resources are available at Sklice.com.

About Head Lice
Head lice are parasitic insects found on the head, eyebrows and eyelashes of people.³ Head lice have three forms: the egg (also known as a nit), the nymph and the adult.³ Nits are often yellow or white, oval-shaped and the size of a thread knot.³ Nymphs look like smaller adult head lice, which have six legs, are mostly tan to grayish white in color, and are about the size of a sesame seed.³ The most common symptom of head lice is itching, which is caused by an allergic reaction to louse saliva.⁵

Head lice are spread by direct contact with the hair of an infested person,³ and are most common in children who come into close contact with others who are experiencing a head lice infestation.⁴ The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates six to 12 million infestations occur annually in children ages three to 11 years old in the U.S.⁴ Misdiagnosis of head lice is common.⁶ Parents should consult a health care provider at the first sign of head lice to confirm a diagnosis and discuss treatment options.

About the Survey
The Facts of Lice survey was conducted by ORC International on behalf of Arbor Pharmaceuticals between March 28 – April 10, 2017. Results of the survey were drawn from a representative sample of 1,000 U.S. millennial moms ages 18-35, and 350 U.S. health care providers (HCPs), including pediatricians, pediatric nurse practitioners and pediatric nurses. Respondents were members of an online panel that agreed to participate in online surveys and polls.

About Sklice (ivermectin) Lotion, 0.5%
Sklice (ivermectin) Lotion, 0.5% is an FDA-approved topical treatment indicated for head lice infestations in patients six months of age and older.⁷ Sklice Lotion is a one-tube, 10-minute treatment that does not require nit combing.⁷ The active ingredient in Sklice Lotion is ivermectin, which works by binding to the invertebrate muscle and nerve cells of parasites, causing paralysis and killing the lice and nymphs.⁷ Sklice Lotion was FDA-approved on February 7, 2012, and is the only FDA-approved head lice treatment with the active ingredient ivermectin. Sklice Lotion is the leading prescription head lice treatment in the U.S., with more than 980,000 prescriptions filled to date.^8,9Sklice Lotion is marketed and distributed by Arbor Pharmaceuticals and is available nationwide.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR SKLICE LOTION

ADJUNCTIVE MEASURES
Sklice Lotion should be used in the context of an overall lice management program:

Wash (in hot water) or dry-clean all recently worn clothing, hats, used bedding, and towels
Wash personal hair items such as combs, brushes, and hair clips in hot water

A fine-tooth comb or special nit comb may be used to remove dead lice and nits.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
In order to prevent accidental ingestion, Sklice Lotion should only be administered to pediatric patients under the direct supervision of an adult.

The most common adverse reactions (incidence <1%) include conjunctivitis, ocular hyperemia, eye irritation, dandruff, dry skin, and skin burning sensation.

For full Prescribing Information visit www.Sklice.com/pdfs/sklice-pi.pdf.

About Arbor Pharmaceuticals LLC
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a specialty pharmaceutical company currently focused on the cardiovascular, hospital and pediatric markets. The company has over 750 employees including 625 sales professionals promoting its products to physicians, hospitals, and pharmacists. Arbor currently markets 22 NDA or ANDA approved products with over 40 more in development. For more information regarding Arbor Pharmaceuticals or any of its products, visit www.arborpharma.com or send email inquiries to [email protected].

References

Facts of Lice Survey: Pediatricians and Nurses. ORC International; 2017.
Facts of Lice Survey: Millennial Moms. ORC International; 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Head lice. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Last updated September 1, 2015. Accessed June 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Head lice. Epidemiology & Risk Factors. Last updated September 24, 2013. Accessed June 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Head lice. Disease. Last updated September 24, 2013. Accessed June 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Head lice. Diagnosis. Last updated September 24, 2013. Accessed June 2017.
Sklice Lotion Prescribing Information. Arbor Pharmaceuticals.
Data on file. Arbor Pharmaceuticals, LLC.
IMS Health Rapid Weekly Data, [June 30, 2017].