The directions for use which appear in large print on the side of the box of Gambex lice shampoo are not hard to follow. They read: "Wet hair thoroughly with warm water. Apply about 30ml (2 tablespoonfuls) to the affected area and work into a luxuriant lather. Rub vigorously for a few minutes, making sure that all hair areas have been covered by the shampoo and wash off completely. If necessary, repeat treatment in 24 hours."
The active ingredient appears in massive letters: Gamma Benzene Hexachloride".
It's widely known as lindane.
Lice infestation is most common in children aged between four and 11, and arguably the most common place for a parent to put a child, in order use a shampoo to work up a "luxuriant lather" on its head, would be in the bath.
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'Why are there no warnings about using it in the bath?' And so it was that Sharon van Rensburg, a South African now living in Australia, put her 10-year-old son Lachlan in the bath in order to rid him of the lice which had taken up residence in his hair.
She was living in South Africa at the time and on discovering the infestation, visited a chemist, found the shelf with the lice treatment products, and chose Gambex, made by Aspen Pharmacare.
"We used the product once, the lice remained, so we reapplied the shampoo as directed," Van Rensburg says.
"Some weeks or months later there was another outbreak of lice at the school and a note sent home to treat children.
"We went to the local pharmacy and Gambex was recommended, so we used it again."
'Most parents are not aware that Gambex is actually a pesticide' In all, Lachlan had three lice infestations and each time was treated with Gambex two to three times, at intervals of five to seven days.
He remained in the bath with the shampoo on his head for about 10 minutes before rinsing it off in the bath, and he remained sitting in the bath for some time, as children tend to do.
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