I hope I don't send everyone into a collective itch but ............

I received a call from a mother who has a toddler and a four week old baby.
The toddler and the mother are infested with head lice.  The toddler and
baby have been treated with permethrin (Nix) but the mother is unsure of
what to do.

I have checked
Briggs, Freeman and Yaffee - no help
J of Human Lactation Dec 94  Pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide (R&C) is
better then lindane (Kwellada) but still not a lot is known.  Not much info
on permethrin in this article.
Motherrisk in Toronto says permethrin in OK
Local drug information line (PADIS) says permethrin is dangerous because of
the mutagenic potential.

Question:  Is pyrethrin with piperonyl butoxide safe and is there any more
information on permethrin.

Scratching my head about this one, from the great north

Shirley Gross M.D.,C.M., C.C.F.P.
Director, Edmonton Breastfeeding Clinic