Fatality after a single dermal application of lindane lotion

Lindane lotion, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of scabies and lice, poses risks of serious adverse effects on the nervous system. In 2003, the FDA issued a public health advisory for lindane products, emphasizing the importance of compliance with labeling instructions. The author presents a case in which a fatal outcome followed a single dermal application of lindane. The product was not applied according to the labeling instructions, and the 66-year-old man rapidly developed hypoxemia, seizures, respiratory acidosis, and hypotension. The final diagnosis at autopsy was hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy from lindane. This case is consistent with other reports of severe neurological outcomes from pharmaceutical use of lindane. These factors suggest a need for the FDA to reassess whether the risks of lindane have been effectively communicated to healthcare providers.