Urticaria & Head Lice

Question 1

Features of urticaria?

Answer 1

• pale, pink raised skin. Variously described as ‘hives’, ‘wheals’, ‘nettle rash’
• pruritic

Question 2

1st line mx of urticaria?

Answer 2

non-sedating antihistamines (e.g. loratadine or cetirizine)

Question 3

Name 2 non-sedating antihistamines

Answer 3

1) loratadine

2) certirizine

Question 4

Name a sedating antihistamine that can be considered for night-time use in urticaria?

Answer 4

Chlorphenamine

Question 5

What can be used for mx of severe or resistant episodes of urticaria?

Answer 5

Prednisolone

Question 6

name 4 drugs that can commonly cause urticaria

Answer 6

1) aspirin

2) penicillins

3) NSAIDs

4) opiates

Question 7

What organism causes head lice?

Answer 7

Parasite –> Pediculus capitis

Question 8

Nits vs head lice?

Answer 8

Nits –> the empty egg shells and are white and shiny

Head lice –> the small insects

Question 9

Can nits jump?

Answer 9

No

Question 10

Diagnosis of head lice?

Answer 10

Fine toothed combing of wet or dry hair

Question 11

When is treatment of head lice ONLY indicated?

Answer 11

If living lice are found

Question 12

Choice of treatment in headlice?

Answer 12

1) malathion

2) wet combing

3) dimeticone

4) isopropyl myristate

5) cyclomethicone

Question 13

Do household contacts of patients with head lice need to be treated as well?

Answer 13

No, unless they are affected

Question 14

Is school exclusion advised for children with head lice?

Answer 14

No