Lindane

General information

Lindane is a pesticide that is widely used in the treatment of scabies and pediculosis, usually in a 1% lotion [ ]. It is the gamma-isomer of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane. The hazards of excessive industrial exposure and accidental ingestion have been well documented [ ].

Some feel that 1% lindane is safe when used properly [ , ], but precautionary recommendations have been made [ ]:

• (a)

  a hot soapy bath before treatment is not necessary;

• (b)

  application for 24 hours may be too long, 6 hours having a cure rate of 96%;

• (c)

  a concentration weaker than 1% may be adequate;

• (d)

  lindane should not be repeated within 8 days, and then only if active parasites can still be demonstrated;

• (e)

  lindane 1% should be used with extreme caution, if at all, in pregnant women, very small infants, and people with massively excoriated skin.

There has been concern from animal experiments that lindane may be mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic; in therapeutic use, however, such hazards are highly unlikely [ , ].

Organs and systems