---

Health: Head Lice

Answer

Information on the number of prescription items written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community in England, for all head lice treatments, and the net ingredient cost, is shown in the following table. Prescriptions issued by nurse and pharmacists prescribers, which are dispensed, will be included in these figures. Any prescriptions issued as part of a minor ailment scheme, which are dispensed, would also be included in these figures. However, such schemes do not normally use prescriptions; rather, products are supplied directly to patients, and data on such supply are not collected centrally.

Number of prescription items written in the UK and dispensed in the community in England and the net ingredient cost (NIC)—January 2008 to June 2010
Chemical name	Product name	Items	NIC(£’s)
Carbaryl	Carylderm Liquid 1%	4,035	18,169
	Carylderm Liquid Shampoo 1%	1	5
	Carylderm Lotion 0.5%	312	1,411
Carbaryl total		4,348	19,585
Dimeticone (parasiticidal)	Hedrin Lotion 4%	90,817	617,936
	Hedrin Lotion Spray 4% 100 ml	277	2,022
	Hedrin Lotion Spray 4% 120 ml	1,487	12,624
	Hedrin Lotion Spray 4% 60 ml	42	267
Dimeticone parasiticidal total		92,623	632,849
Malathion	Derbac-M Liquid 0.5%	201,694	1,190,974
	Prioderm Cream Shampoo 1%	246	969
	Prioderm Lotion 0.5%	52,595	292,846
	Quellada-M Cream Shampoo 1%	3,607	14,312
	Quellada-M Liquid 0.5%	23,039	114,918
	Suleo-M Lotion 0.5%	525	2,892
Malathion total		281,706	1,616,910
Other parasiticidal preparations	Nitty Gritty Head Lice Repellent Spray 250 ml	12	69
Other parasiticidal preparations total		12	69
Phenothrin	Full Marks Foam Aero 0.5% 150g	2,059	14,438
	Full Marks Foam Aero 0.5% 50g	2,369	8,800
	Full Marks Liquid 0.5%	16,439	93,921
	Full Marks Lotion 0.2%	7,883	43,291
Phenothrin total		28,750	160,450
Combs	Nitcomb-M2 Comb	691	1,567
	Nitcomb-S1 Comb	261	318
	Nitty Gritty NitFree Comb	12,408	73,098
Combs total		13,360	74,982
Grand total		420,799	2,504,846

"Notes:""1. Prescription information is taken from the prescription cost analysis (PCA) system.""2. NIC is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.""3. The British National Formulary classifies treatment of head lice under paragraph 13.10.4 on parasiticidal preparations. Also included in this section are treatments for crab lice and scabies but these are not included in this response unless also suitable for treating head lice.""4. A further treatment for head lice, which may be combined with chemical treatment, is the use of a special comb, information for which is included in the table." "1. Prescription information is taken from the prescription cost analysis (PCA) system.""2. NIC is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.""3. The British National Formulary classifies treatment of head lice under paragraph 13.10.4 on parasiticidal preparations. Also included in this section are treatments for crab lice and scabies but these are not included in this response unless also suitable for treating head lice.""4. A further treatment for head lice, which may be combined with chemical treatment, is the use of a special comb, information for which is included in the table." "2. NIC is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.""3. The British National Formulary classifies treatment of head lice under paragraph 13.10.4 on parasiticidal preparations. Also included in this section are treatments for crab lice and scabies but these are not included in this response unless also suitable for treating head lice.""4. A further treatment for head lice, which may be combined with chemical treatment, is the use of a special comb, information for which is included in the table." "3. The British National Formulary classifies treatment of head lice under paragraph 13.10.4 on parasiticidal preparations. Also included in this section are treatments for crab lice and scabies but these are not included in this response unless also suitable for treating head lice.""4. A further treatment for head lice, which may be combined with chemical treatment, is the use of a special comb, information for which is included in the table." "4. A further treatment for head lice, which may be combined with chemical treatment, is the use of a special comb, information for which is included in the table."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

4562; 722 c498-9WA

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Costs Prescriptions Head lice

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk