Lice & Scabies Flashcards
Pediculosis = ?
Lice
Describe Pediculosis (lice)
- ectoparasites that live on human hosts
- feed off of blood
- live in hair (prefer clean hair)
- do not burrow into skin
Read Pg 876 of CTMA 2 for lice pathophysiology
ok
pediculus humanus capitus
head lice
pedicures humanus corporis
body lice
phthirus pubis
pubic lice
Describe head lice
- feed every 3-6 hours so eat about 3-4 times per day
- live on hair close to scalp
- need the heat from the scalp to maintain their body temperature
- about 10-20 live lice per active infection
- they are about the size of a sesame seed
- they lay eggs called Nits
Describe body lice
- body lice will live and hide in the seams of clothes
- feed at night - which will cause nocturnal itching
- body lice are bigger than head lice
- body lice can spread disease
Describe pubic lice
- can have pinchers, thats why they are called “crabs”
- smaller pin sized head
- they are shorter
- arms are wider (need a longer reach because pubic hair is farther apart than normal hair)
- small yellow, or light brownish when empty
- brown/red when fed
- public lice can also be found in armpits, eyelids, and beards
Risk factors for Lice
- school aged children
- more prevalent in females (they have longer hair, share clothes/hats, and combs)
Is personal hygiene or socioeconomic status determine whether or not you or your kid will have lice?
not head lice
but can be a factor for body lice
T or F: lice spread disease
head lice - false
body lice - true
Describe the life cycle of lice
- adult female life cycle = 30 days and she lays about 7-10 eggs per day
- lice lays eggs (called a nit)
- eggs hatch 8-10 days later and undergo 3 nymph stages to eventually mature into adult forms within 8-15 days (head and body) or 14-22 days (pubic)
How long can head lice survive off the human for?
4 days
How long can body lice survive off the human for?
3 days
How long can pubic lice survive off the human for?
3 days
Risk factors for head lice
- aged 3-11
- female
- clean hair/healthy host
Risk factors for body lice
- poverty
- overcrowding
- low hygiene
Risk factors for pubic lice
- sexually active
- young adults
Transmission of head lice
- head to head contact
- Fomites: hats, hair accessories, brushes, towels
Transmission of body lice
- direct body contact with infested person
- shared clothing & linens
Transmission of pubic lice
- mainly sexual or close body contact
- possibly fomites (why the f u wearing hats on ur junk ?)
How fast can lice run?
23cm/min
speedy
Signs and symptoms of head lice
- pruritus (itching) especially the back and side of scalp
- this occurs when the individual becomes sensitized to the saliva from the louse feeding (this can take 4-6 weeks for initial infestation or 1-2 days for secondary infestation)
-some people may be asymptomatic
Describe eggs & nits
- nits are 0.3-0.8 mm in diameter (that’s why lice comb should have fine teeth - 0.2 to 0.3 mm apart)
- viable nits generally blend in with hair colour & and located within 6 mm of the scalp
Gold standard for diagnosing head lice?
visualization of a live louse
Signs & symptoms of body lice
- nocturnal pruritus
- bite marks around the waist and axillae
- potential secondary bacterial infection
Signs & symptoms of pubic lice
- pruritus
- bite marks
- risk of secondary bacterial infection
Describe the wet combing technique
- best way to detect lice infestation
- wash hair then apply and leave in conditioner
- brush hair
- it may help to separate the hair into sections with clips
- comb through hair with lice comb starting with comb touching the skin of the scalp and comb to the edge of the hair
- look carefully at the teeth of the comb in good light
- wipe the teeth with piece of paper towel
- do this until the whole head has been combed through
Differential diagnosis for head lice: Need to consider what other possible conditions?
- dandruff
- seborrheic dermatitis
- accumulation of hair cosmetics, paint flecks, or debris
- pseudo-nits
- psychogenic itch
Differential diagnosis for pubic lice: Need to consider what other possible conditions?
- seborrheic dermatitis
- folliculitis
- dermatophytosis (jock itch)
Differential diagnosis for body lice: Need to consider what other possible conditions?
- seborrheic dermatitis
- folliculitis
- eczema (atopic dermatitis)
- impetigo (bacterial infection)
- flea or insect bites
*also need to determine whether its body lice or bed bugs
Scabies:
describe it
-highly contagious infestation of the skin with the human mite
Scabies:
who is at risk
children, mothers of young children, sexually active adults, & elderly in nursing homes
so 91.6543% of the earth’s population
Contrast lice from scabies
lice - ectoparasite - lives outside the body
scabies - burrow into the top layer of the skin
Scabies:
Where do epidemics occur?
in poor living conditions (poverty, poor hygiene, overcrowding) & institutions
Scabies:
Required reading - describe the pathophysiology (Pg 881 CTMA 2)
- transmitted through close personal contact, particularly sexual contact
- spread by coming into contact with infested furniture, towels
- an impregnanted mite - has a rounded body and 4 pairs of legs, and HAS THE AUDACITY to burrow into the upper most layer (stratum corneum) of the epidermis
- she leaves a trail of shit as she does this - I shit you not
- then this psycho lays 2-3 eggs every day.
- she stays in the burrow (so lazy) and lays eggs til she dies (about 4-6 weeks later)
- 3-4 days after the eggs are laid, they hatch and the large w 6 legs travel from the burrow to the skin surface to mature into adult mites within 14-17 days
- then her little eggs grow up to be just as gross as their mother
On warm skin - mites can crawl how fast?
2.5 cm/min
fast little buggers
Pts typically harbour how many mites?
10-12 mites
How long can scabies survive off of the human host for?
2-36 hours at room temp
*in a cool humid environment survival is increased to about 19 days
Upon initial infection of scabies, how long does it take for sensation of the mites, eggs or feces to cause intense pruritus?
3-4 weeks
Upon secondary infection of scabies, how long does it take for sensation of the mites, eggs or feces to cause intense pruritus?
24-48 hours
Transmission of scabies
- primarily by skin-skin contact
- transmission by fomites (furniture, towels, etc) is extremely rare unless Pt has a very high parasite load
Scabies:
signs & symptoms
- redness of skin
- linear burrow with visible tracts
- itchiness (more intense at night or in warm conditions)
Scabies:
Why may you still experience itch after the parasite has left your body?
Because these gross fuckers literally leave their shit in your skin. That’s why.
You’re a fucking port-a-potty for mite shit, no wonder you’re fucking itching.
Scabies:
As a pharmacist can you diagnose scabies?
nope - must refer to physician for actual diagnosis
Scabies:
Differential diagnosis for scabies must look at other potential conditions such as?
- seborrheic dermatitis
- impetigo
- body lice
- bed bugs/insect bites
- eczema (atopic dermatitis)
Contrast atopic dermatitis and scabies.
Atopic dermatitis:
the itch that rashes
Scabies:
the rash that itches
Out of all the types of lice and scabies - which are self-treatable?
Self-treatable:
- head lice
- body lice
Not Self-treatable (need referral):
- pubic lice
- scabies
Why do you need to refer public lice and scabies?
1 - scabies is a very difficult differential diagnosis
Scabies:
red flags/ when do you refer?
- presence of secondary bacterial infection in lice or scabies infested areas (signs of infection include inflammation, pus, warm to touch)
- resistant/recurrent cases
- Pts with suspected scabies
- Pts with pubic lice
- Lice infestation in eyebrows and eyelashes
Non-pharmacological treatment & prevention for lice
- nit removal - wet combing technique
- avoid sharing personal items
- items should be dry clean, washed in hot water, or stored in plastic bag for 10-14 days
- soak combs and brushes in hot water for 5-10 mins or wash with pediculicide
- carpets, rugs and furniture should be vacuumed
*ensure family members and bedmates be treated prophylactically