Parasitic Infections: LICE (PEDICULOSIS)

Question 1

LICE (PEDICULOSIS)

Clinical Feature

Answer 1

intensely pruritic, red excoriations, morbilliform rash, caused by louse (a parasite)

Question 2

LICE (PEDICULOSIS)

scalp lice:

Answer 2

nits (i.e. louse eggs) on hairs; red, excoriated skin with secondary bacterial infection,
lymphadenopathy

Question 3

LICE (PEDICULOSIS) pubic lice:

Answer 3

nits on hairs; excoriations

Question 4

LICE (PEDICULOSIS) body lice:

Answer 4

nits and lice in seams of clothing; excoriations and secondary infection mainly on shoulders,
belt-line, and buttocks

Question 5

LICE (PEDICULOSIS) Etiology

Answer 5

Phthirus pubis (pubic), Pediculus humanus capitis (scalp), Pediculus humanus humanus (body): attaches
to body hair and feeds on the nearby body site

Question 6

LICE (PEDICULOSIS) what can this parasite transmite?

Answer 6

can transmit infectious agents (e.g. Bartonella Quintana, Rickettsia prowazekii)

Question 7

LICE (PEDICULOSIS) Differential Diagnosis

Answer 7

bacterial infection of scalp, seborrheic dermatitis

Question 8

LICE (PEDICULOSIS) Diagnosis

Answer 8

lice visible on inspection of affected area or clothing seams

Question 9

LICE (PEDICULOSIS) Management

Answer 9

permethrin 1% (Nix® cream rinse) (ovicidal) or permethrin 1% (RC &Cor®, Kwellada-P® shampoo)

Question 10

LICE (PEDICULOSIS) Measures

Answer 10

comb hair with ne-toothed comb using dilute vinegar solution to remove nits
shave hair if feasible, change clothing and linens; wash with detergent in hot water cycle then machine dry
• repeat in 7 d after first treatment