Lice & Scabies Flashcards
What is the pathophys of Lice?
Lice are tiny, blood-sucking insects that are specific parasites of humans. Outbreaks in institutions such as schools and long-term care facilities are common, with an estimated prevalence of head lice of 1–3% in elementary school-aged children.
Table 1
What are the risk factors of Head Lice?
- Most common in school-aged children
- Hair length? Hygiene? Ethnicity? (doesn’t affect)
What are the risk factors of Pubic Lice?
- Sexually active
What are the risk factors of Body Lice?
- Poor hygiene
- Poverty
- Overcrowding
What is the transmission of Head Lice?
- Direct head-to-head contact
- Fomites (uncommon): hats, hair accessories, brushes
What is the transmission of Pubic Lice?
- Sexual or close body contact
- Shared clothing & bedding (uncommon)
What is the transmission of Body Lice?
- Shared clothing & bedding
What are the Head Lice Sx’s?
Pruritis
What is the diagnosis of Lice?
- Diagnosis requires detection of a live louse
- Nits are not diagnostic.
- For head lice - Most reliable method of detection is “wet combing”
What is the Wet Combing Technique?
Best way to detect lice infestation, effective for mechanical removal of lice/nits
1. Apply plenty of conditioner from scalp to ends of hair (leaving it in hair)
2. Comb hair with a regular comb to remove tangles
3. Switch to a lice comb. Comb through hair starting with comb flat against the skin of the
scalp and comb to the ends of the hair. (It may help to separate the hair into sections
with clips)
4. After each comb, wipe the comb teeth with piece of paper towel
5. Check the paper towel for lice and eggs (good light will help)
6. Do this until the whole head has been combed through
7. Rinse out conditioner
NOTE:
* If there are head lice you will find 1 or more lice on the comb – if you are unsure, observe for
movement on paper towel
* It takes 20-30 minutes to thoroughly check a head for lice
What are the signs & sx’s of Body Lice?
- Pruritus (often nocturnal)
- Bite marks (waist and axillae)
- Excoriations
- Potential secondary bacterial infection
- *Lice & nits in seams of clothing
Which lice type has disease transmission?
BODY Lice is the ONLY type of lice that CAN SPREAD DISEASE
Trench fever –> can lead to cardiac issues (SOB, chest pain etc.)
What are the signs & sx’s of Pubic Lice?
- Pruritus
- Papules, maculae ceruleae
- Excoriations
- Brown flecks or red spots on skin or undergarments
- Presence of lice & nits
- Location: pubic area, other areas of coarse hair
- Risk of secondary bacterial infection
What is the differential diagnosis of Head Lice?
- Dandruff
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Accumulation of hair cosmetics
- Pseudo-nits
- Psychogenic itch
What is the differential diagnosis of Pubic Lice?
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Folliculitis
- Dermatophytosis (jock itch)
What is the differential diagnosis of Body Lice?
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Folliculitis
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Impetigo
- Flea or insect bites
- Scabies
What is Scabies?
- Highly contagious infestation of the skin by Sarcoptes scabiei
- Epidemics occur in crowded living conditions & institutions
- Most common in children & elderly
Table 3
What is Scabies transmission?
- Prolonged skin to skin contact
- Fomites? (v. rare)
What are the signs & sx’s of Scabies?
- Intense pruritus (worse at night)
- Primary lesions (burrows, vesicles & papules)
- Secondary lesions
- Mite eggs & feces on skin scraping (REQUIRED FOR DIAGNOSIS)
When do Scabies sx’s develop?
?
What is the differential diagnosis for Scabies?
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
- Impetigo
- Body lice
- Bed bugs/insect bites
Is Lice a self-treatable condition?
- Can be treated without consulting a doctor
- Encourage physician visit for those with pubic lice
Is Scabies a self-treatable condition?
- Patients without a confirmed diagnosis or exposure to known scabies case should be referred for diagnosis.