Permethrin is a medication and an insecticide. As a medication, it is used to treat scabies and lice. It is applied to the skin as a cream or lotion. As an insecticide, it can be sprayed onto clothing or mosquito nets to kill the insects that touch them.Side effects include rash and irritation at the area of use. Use during pregnancy appears to be safe. It is approved for use on and around people over the age of two months. Permethrin is in the pyrethroid family of medications. It works by disrupting the function of the neurons of lice and scabies mites.Permethrin was discovered in 1973. It is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines. In 2017, it was the 410th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 150 thousand prescriptions. Uses
Insecticide
In agriculture, to protect crops (a drawback is that it is lethal to bees)
In agriculture, to kill livestock parasites
For industrial and domestic insect control
In the textile industry, to prevent insect attack of woollen products
In aviation, the WHO, IHR and ICAO require arriving aircraft be disinsected prior to embarkation, departure, descent, or deplaning in certain countries. Aircraft disinsection with permethrin-based products is recommended only prior to embarkation. Prior to departure (after boarding), at the top of descent or on arrival, d-phenothrin-based (1R-trans phenothrin) aircraft insecticides are recommended. Insect repellent
As a personal protective measure, permethrin is applied to clothing. It is a cloth impregnant, notably in mosquito nets and field wear.
Cats
Permethrin is toxic to cats; however, it has little effect on dogs. Pesticide-grade permethrin is toxic to cats. Many cats die after being given flea treatments intended for dogs, or by contact with dogs having recently been treated with permethrin. In cats it may induce hyperexcitability, tremors, seizures, and death.Toxic exposure of permethrin can cause several symptoms, including convulsion, hyperaesthesia, hyperthermia, hypersalivation, and loss of balance and coordination. Exposure to pyrethroid-derived drugs such as permethrin requires treatment by a veterinarian, otherwise the poisoning is often fatal. This intolerance is due to a defect in glucuronosyltransferase, a common detoxification enzyme in other mammals, that also makes the cat intolerant to paracetamol (acetaminophen). The use of any external parasiticides based on permethrin is contraindicated for cats. Aquatic organisms
Permethrin is listed as a "restricted use" substance by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to its high toxicity to aquatic organisms, so permethrin and permethrin-contaminated water should be properly disposed of. Permethrin is quite stable, having a half life of 51–71 days in an aqueous environment exposed to light. It is also highly persistent in soil. See also
Benzyl benzoate
DEET
Methoprene
Pyrethrin
Pyrethrum

References
External links
Permethrin in the Pesticide Properties DataBase (PPDB)
Permethrin General Fact Sheet – National Pesticide Information Center
Permethrin Technical Fact Sheet – National Pesticide Information Center
Permethrin-treated Clothing Hot Topic – National Pesticide Information Center
"Health Effects of Permethrin-Impregnated Army Battle-Dress Uniforms", National Research Council (1994, US)
Permethrin Pesticide Information Profile – Extension Toxicology Network
"Permethrin". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.