Head lice Flashcards
What is it
pediculosis capitis or ‘nits’ is a common condition in children caused by the parasitic insect Pediculus capitis, which lives on and among the hair of the scalp of humans.
What are head lice
Head lice are small insects that live only on humans, they feed on our blood. Eggs are grey or brown and about the size of a pinhead.
How are the eggs attached
The eggs are glued to the hair, close to the scalp and hatch in 7 to 10 days. Nits are the empty egg shells and are white and shiny. They are found further along the hair shaft as they grow out.
How are they spread
direct head-to-head contact - they cannot jump, fly or swim!
When does scalp itching occur
itching and scratching on the scalp occurs 2 to 3 weeks after infection. There is no incubation period.
How to diagnose
Fine tooth combing of hair
When is treatment indicated
When live lice are found
What is the treatment
malathion, wet combing, dimeticone, isopropyl myristate and cyclomethicone
Do household members need to be treated
household contacts of patients with head lice do not need to be treated unless they are also affected
