In Vitro Study of the Phototherapy Activity of Low-Power Laser against Embryonic Development and Nit Shell Degradation of Human Head Lice, Pediculus Humanus Capitis

Authors

  • Karwan Sallo Najm Al-Marjan Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Erbil Technical Health and Medical College, Erbil Polytechnic University. Erbil City, Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6272-6275
  • Nawroz Ismael Hassan Department of Physiotherapy, Erbil Technical Health and Medical College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil City, Iraq. Department of Physiotherapy Technologies, College of Health Technology, Knowledge University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
  • Fouad Hussein Kamel Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Erbil Medical Technical Institute, Erbil Poly-technic University, Erbil, Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5302-9200

Keywords:

Nit. , Lice , Nd:YAG laser, He-Ne laser

Abstract

Head lice eggs, called nits, cling to the hair base. Nit removal has become important in head lice treatment because main insecticides are not 100% nitcidal. The aim of this study is to provide a new method for controlling and treating head lice by inhibiting the development of embryo in their nits (eggs) and nit shell degradation through the use of He-Ne and Nd:YAG laser beams. For this purpose, seventy five nits (ova) of P. humanus capitis were collected from children's hair then all nits were divided on three clean Petri dish, two Petri dish were exposed to He-Ne and Nd:YAG laser then  put in incubator at 23±2C° for about a week then followed up the nit hatching rate on daily basis. Results indicate that both types of laser having a powerful role in the inhibition of the head lice nits. The number of hatched nit is equal to 4/25 nits (16%) among Nd-YAG laser exposited nits while the number of hatched nit is equal to 0/25nits (0%) among Gas laser, He-Ne Laser exposited nits in comparing to the control sample, number of hatching egg is equal to 14/25 nits (56%). Chi square association (P. value =0.037) confirmed that the He-Ne laser beam slightly having a stronger effect on the degradation of the head lice nit shell while it is strongly depending on the period of nit exposure.

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Published

2025-06-15

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 2 (2025): June 2025

Section

Mathematics

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Karwan Sallo Najm Al-Marjan, Nawroz Ismael Hassan, Fouad Hussein Kamel

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

(1)
Sallo Najm Al-Marjan, K. .; Ismael Hassan, N. .; Hussein Kamel, F. . In Vitro Study of the Phototherapy Activity of Low-Power Laser Against Embryonic Development and Nit Shell Degradation of Human Head Lice, Pediculus Humanus Capitis. Al-Nahrain J. Sci. 2025, 28 (2), 100-105.