Jump to content
- Lice infection
- Transmission by direct physical contact or indirect contact with infected clothes, etc.
- Risk factors
- Crowded places
- School
- Homeless
- Pathomechanism
- Delayed allergic reaction to lice saliva
- May be asymptomatic for weeks while sensitization occurs
- Pediculosis capitis
- Pediculus humanus capitis (head louse)
- Most common in children
- Clinical features
- Scalp/neck pruritus
- Louse eczema on back of neck
- Diagnosis
- Detection of lice on the scalp or hair
- Treatment
- Permethrin shampoo
- Lindane shampoo
- Malathion shampoo
- Then mechanical removal with a fine-toothed comb
- Cleaning of all hair tools, bedding, clothes, etc.
- Pediculosis corporis
- Pediculus humanus corporis (body louse)
- Most common in crowded, unsanitary living conditions
- Clinical features
- Pruritus
- Bites on skin
- Scratching lines
- Diagnosis
- Detection of lice in clothing
- Treatment
- Topical permethrin
- Cleaning of all bedding, clothes, etc.
- Pediculosis pubis
- Pthirus pubis (crab louse)
- Transmitted by sexual contact
- Most common in teenagers and young adults
- Pruritus in genital area
- Blue-purple macules in patients with chronic infection
- Diagnosis
- Detection of lice in pubic hair
- Treatment
- Topical permethrin
- Cleaning of all bedding, clothes, etc.
