About malathion liquid

Malathion liquid contains an insecticide. It kills insects (parasites) that live on humans, such as head lice, the l'acaro della scabbia e pidocchi del pube. Two applications of treatment with malathion liquid are needed, one week apart.

Head lice are common in children but can affect anyone of any age. Close hair-to-hair contact is usually needed to pass lice on. Head lice cannot jump or fly but walk from one head to another. They are tiny grey/brown insects, about the size of a sesame seed. Head lice cling to hairs but stay close to the scalp which they feed off. Many people with head lice do not have any symptoms, although some may have an itchy scalp.

La scabbia è un disturbo cutaneo pruriginoso che porta a un'eruzione cutanea. È causata da un'infestazione di un parassita - l'acaro della scabbia. L'acaro vive sulla pelle e vi si insinua. La scabbia è contagiosa e si diffonde ad altri attraverso il contatto stretto pelle a pelle. La mano è il sito più comune ad essere colpito per primo, probabilmente a causa di una prolungata stretta di mano con una persona infetta. Il contatto stretto pelle a pelle durante i rapporti sessuali è un altro modo comune di contrarre la scabbia.

Crab (pubic) lice are tiny insects that live on humans, usually in the pubic hair. They are passed on through close body contact, such as when having sex. Infestation with crab lice can cause itching but not everyone affected has symptoms. Crab lice are grey or brown in colour. They get their name because some of their legs have crab-like claws.

Malathion liquid is available on prescription, or you can buy it without a prescription at a pharmacy. It is easy to apply and normally works well if used properly.

To make sure this is the right treatment for you (or your child), before you start using malathion liquid it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• If any areas of skin are sore or infected.

• Se sei incinta o stai allattando.

• If it is for a child under 6 months old. This is because, in very young children, it should only be used on the advice of a doctor.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine or skin product.

• Before you (or your child) start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about applying malathion liquid and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from using it. Two applications of treatment are needed, one week apart.

• To treat head lice: apply the liquid to dry hair and rub it into the scalp. Let the hair dry again naturally. Leave it on for 8-12 hours (preferably overnight) and then shampoo it out. Comb through the hair, using a 'nit comb', while it is still wet to remove the dead lice and eggs (nits). You will need to use malathion a second time, seven days after the first treatment. Apply the liquid in the same way as the first time. Using two treatments helps to ensure that any lice emerging from eggs having survived the first treatment are killed.

• To treat scabies: apply the liquid over your whole body including your face, neck, scalp and ears, but try to take care not to get any into your eyes. Remember to include awkward places such as your back, the soles of your feet, between your fingers and toes, under your fingernails, and your genitals. Malathion should be applied when your skin is cool and dry, so if you have just had a bath or shower, wait for a little while to let your skin cool before you apply it. Pay special attention to the areas where mite burrows can commonly occur - the front of your wrists and elbows, beneath your breasts, your armpits, and around the nipples in women. Let your skin dry naturally after applying the treatment and leave it on for 24 hours. Each time you wash your hands using soap during this 24 hours, reapply the liquid to your hands afterwards. After 24 hours, remove the treatment from your skin by having a bath or a shower. You will need to use malathion a second time, seven days after the first treatment. Apply the liquid in the same way as the first time.

• To treat crab (pubic) lice: apply the liquid over your whole body including your face, neck, scalp and ears, but try to take care not to get any into your eyes. Remember to include awkward places and pay particular attention to all hairy areas (such as eyebrows and facial hair) and your genitals. Let your skin dry naturally. Leave the treatment on for 12 hours (or overnight) and then wash it off by having a bath or a shower. You will need to use the liquid a second time, seven days after the first treatment. Apply it in the same way as the first time. Using two treatments, a week apart like this, helps to ensure that all the lice are killed.

• If you are using malathion for head lice, all family members who are affected should be treated at the same time. It can also help to comb the hair with a nit comb every four days. Comb through small sections of wet hair and remove any lice you find. It can take half an hour or so to do this over the whole scalp. Continue to do this twice a week until your hair is free from lice on three consecutive sessions.

• If you have scabbia, all your household members, close contacts and sleeping/sexual partners should also be treated - even if they have no symptoms. This is because it can take up to six weeks to develop symptoms after you become infected. Close family and partners may be infected but have no symptoms, and may pass on the mite. Everyone who is treated, should be treated on the same day.

• If you have pidocchi del pube, i tuoi contatti stretti recenti e i partner sessuali dovrebbero essere trattati se sono infetti. È importante ricordare che i pidocchi possono essere presenti anche senza altri sintomi come il prurito. Se hai contratto i pidocchi del pube da un partner sessuale, dovresti anche essere testato per altre infezioni sessualmente trasmissibili.

• Do not use malathion more frequently or for more times than is recommended. If you feel the treatment has not been successful, make an appointment to see your doctor for further advice. An alternative preparation may be recommended for you.

If you have scabies, the following also applies

• If you are applying malathion liquid to an infant or young child, put mittens on your child to stop them licking the treatment off their hands. Don't apply the liquid to areas around their mouth where it could be licked off.

• I bambini dovrebbero restare a casa da scuola fino a quando non è stata completata la prima applicazione del trattamento per la scabbia.

• Abiti, asciugamani e biancheria da letto devono essere lavati in lavatrice a 50°C o più dopo la prima applicazione del trattamento. Questo uccide gli acari della scabbia. Conservare eventuali capi di abbigliamento che non possono essere lavati in sacchetti di plastica per almeno 72 ore per contenere gli acari fino alla loro morte. Opzioni alternative per uccidere eventuali acari su vestiti e biancheria sono stirare l'articolo con un ferro caldo, lavaggio a secco o mettere gli articoli in un'asciugatrice sul ciclo caldo per 10-30 minuti. Non è necessario fumigare le aree abitative o i mobili o trattare gli animali domestici.

• Sarai ancora pruriginoso per un po' dopo un trattamento riuscito. Se il prurito diventa fastidioso, il tuo medico o farmacista sarà in grado di consigliarti sui prodotti adatti per alleviarlo. Le creme idratanti possono fornire un sollievo temporaneo dal prurito.

• È normale che ci vogliano fino a 2-3 settimane (e talvolta fino a sei settimane) affinché il prurito scompaia completamente dopo che gli acari della scabbia sono stati eliminati. Tuttavia, dovresti consultare un medico se il prurito persiste per più di 2-3 settimane dopo il trattamento. Questo perché a volte il primo insetticida non funziona e potresti doverne usare uno diverso.

• Alcune persone possono sviluppare un'infezione cutanea secondaria che potrebbe richiedere un trattamento antibiotico. Se sospetti che questo sia il tuo caso, dovresti fissare un appuntamento con il tuo medico.

Malathion can occasionally cause skin irritation. This should soon pass but, if it is severe or becomes troublesome (or if you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the treatment), please ask your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Conservare in un luogo fresco e asciutto, lontano da fonti di calore e luce diretta.