Headlice Flashcards
________are hatched or dead eggs.
Nits are hatched or dead eggs.
___________are live insects which move freely through the hair and feed on blood
Lice are live insects which move freely through the hair and feed on blood
where to look for eggs?
nape of the neck, and back of ears. stuck on the head shaft
where to find live lice?
scalp, because they need to feed
When considering and examining a patient with suspected headlice it is also important to consider the following:?
Live lice can be found anywhere on the scalp.
Eggs can be found most commonly behind the ears and at the back of the neck
The severity of each infection that you see may vary from a few lice to thousands of lice. A typical infestation may have around 30 lice her head.
what treatment for headlice
Non Pesticide Treatments
Pesticide Treatments
Wet Combing
how to use a wet comb?
Wet the hair and soak with conditioner or vegetable oil (I know which one I would prefer!!).
Comb over the whole scalp with the plastic detection comb. For a head of medium length hair this can take 10+ minutes, for longer hair, this can take up to 30+ minutes.
This routine should be repeated at four day intervals for a minimum of two weeks.
This should be continued until no lice have been found on three consecutive sessions.
what are the drug physical insecticide treatments for head lice
Dimeticone (4% lotion, 92% spray, >95% lotion) - Brand names such as Hedrin and Lyclear contain dimeticone.
Isopropyl myristate and cyclomethicone solution
isopropyl myristrate and isopropyl alcohol aerosol
what are the drug chemical insecticide treatments for head lice
Malathion aqueous liquid
Permethrin. Treatments that include permethrin often have very short contact times and they are considered inadequate for the product to be effective. In addition, there is evidence of resistance within the UK, which is why permethrin is not recommended for the treatment of head lice.
what natural product for head lice?
A very good example of a natural product is tea tree oil. shampoo
questions to ask?
history of head lice
what is the first line of treatment when?
pregnancy 6months to 2 years asthma breast feeding ezcema
wet combing
or dimeticone
when to treat
only when we find live lice on there hair
_____________should be treated on the same day
all infected individuals should be treated on the same day
how many treatment sessions?
more than 1 until proper elimination
For a patient the diagnosis of headlice can have a number of further implications:?
If the patient is consistently scratching they are at increased risk of secondary bacterial infections,
The consistent irritation can result in loss of sleep and concentration and this may affect the child’s progression in education. Have you ever heard of the term ‘nitwit’ this is where it originated, as children with head lice often feel behind in their studies.
Obviously the appearance of eggs attached to the hair, and live lice in severe cases, can lead to the child experiencing bullying.
where is head lice most common
small children
how can head lice spread?
head to head contact
from personal belongings eg brush
how long can head lice survive for?
24 - 48 hours
what is the treatment for itching
Creams for itching
Creams for itching should be applied after the application of the insecticide.
Crotamiton lotion or cream 2 – 3 times a day.
Topical hydrocortisone 1% cream can be used IF diagnosis is certain
Sedating antihistamine
An example includes chlorphenamine or hydroxyzine, these should be prescribed at night if the itch is interfering with sleep.
_____________ may indicate treatment failure.
Itching lasting after a week after treatment may indicate treatment failure.
are scabies mites contagious?
yes
who should be treated?
anybody that may have had skin contact during infection.
why should the patient be careful of itching
secondary bacterial infection, if skin is cracked
what type of formulation should be considered?
topical
