Pediculosis

Last updated
Pediculosis
Pediculus humanus var capitis.jpg
Pediculus humanus capitis (♀)
Specialty Infectious disease

Pediculosis is an infestation of lice from the sub-order Anoplura, family Pediculidae. Accordingly, the infestation with head lice is named pediculosis capitis, while this with body lice, pediculosis corporis. [1] [2] Although pediculosis in humans may properly refer to lice infestation of any part of the body, the term is sometimes used loosely to refer to pediculosis capitis, the infestation of the human head with the specific head louse.

Contents

Classification

Pediculosis may be divided into the following types: [3] : 446–8  [4]

Head lice

Presentation

Head louse crawling on a hairbrush
Phthiriasis in the head of a 6-year-old boy caused by phthiriasis pubis as confirmed by optical (c) and electron microscopy (d). Pediculus humanus capitis 2.jpg
Phthiriasis in the head of a 6-year-old boy caused by phthiriasis pubis as confirmed by optical (c) and electron microscopy (d).

Head-lice infestation is most frequent on children aged 3–10 and their families. Approximately 3% of school children in the United States contract head lice. [6] [ failed verification ] Females aged 3–12 years are most commonly infested. [7] Those of African descent rarely experience infestation due to differences in hair texture. [7]

Head lice are spread through direct head-to-head contact with an infested person. From each egg or "nit" may hatch one nymph that will grow and develop to the adult louse. Lice feed on blood once or more often each day by piercing the skin with their tiny needle-like mouthparts. While feeding they excrete saliva, which irritates the skin and causes itching. [6] Lice cannot burrow into the skin.[ citation needed ]

Diagnosis

To diagnose infestation, the entire scalp should be combed thoroughly with a louse comb and the teeth of the comb should be examined for the presence of living lice after each time the comb passes through the hair. The use of a louse comb is the most effective way to detect living lice. [8]

The most characteristic symptom of infestation is pruritus (itching) on the head that normally intensifies 3 to 4 weeks after the initial infestation. The bite reaction is very mild and it can be rarely seen between the hairs. Excessive scratching of the infested areas can cause sores, which may become infected.[ citation needed ]

Treatment

The number of diagnosed cases of human louse infestations (or pediculosis) has increased worldwide since the mid-1960s, reaching hundreds of millions annually. [9] There is no product or method that assures 100% destruction of the eggs and hatched lice after a single treatment. However, there are a number of treatment methods that can be employed with varying degrees of success. These methods include chemical treatments, natural products, combs, shaving, hot air, silicone-based lotions, and ethanol (ethyl alcohol). [10]

Pediculosis is commonly treated with permethrin lotion. [11] [12]

Epidemiology

About 14 million people, mainly children, are treated annually for head lice in the United States alone. Only a small proportion of those treated, however, may have objective evidence of an extant infestation. [13] High levels of louse infestations have also been reported from all over the world including Denmark, Sweden, U.K., France and Australia. [14] [15] Normally head lice infest a new host only by close contact between individuals, making social contacts among children and parent child interactions more likely routes of infestation than shared combs, brushes, towels, clothing, beds or closets. Head-to-head contact is by far the most common route of lice transmission.[ citation needed ]

The United Kingdom's National Health Service, and many American health agencies, [16] [17] report that lice "prefer" clean hair, because it's easier to attach eggs and to cling to the strands.[ citation needed ]

Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are not known to be vectors of diseases, unlike body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus), which are known vectors of epidemic or louse-borne typhus (Rickettsia prowazekii), trench fever (Rochalimaea quintana) and louse-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis).[ citation needed ]

Body lice

This condition is caused by body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus, sometimes called Pediculus humanus corporis), [18] a louse that infests humans and is adapted to lay eggs in clothing, rather than at the base of hairs, and is thus of recent evolutionary origin.

Pubic lice

Other animals

Pediculosis is more common in cattle than any other type of domesticated animal. [19] This is a significant problem, as it can cause weight loss of 55 to 75 pounds per animal. [19] Some species of lice infesting cattle include the cattle biting louse ( Bovicola bovis ), the shortnosed cattle louse ( Haematopinus eurysternus ), the longnosed cattle louse ( Linognathus vituli ), and the little blue cattle louse ( Solenopotes capillatus ). [20]

History

In the 15th century, topical mercury treatment was used to treat pediculosis. [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scabies</span> Human disease

Scabies is a contagious human skin infestation by the tiny (0.2–0.45 mm) mite Sarcoptes scabiei, variety hominis. The word is from Latin: scabere, lit. 'to scratch'. The most common symptoms are severe itchiness and a pimple-like rash. Occasionally, tiny burrows may appear on the skin. In a first-ever infection, the infected person usually develops symptoms within two to six weeks. During a second infection, symptoms may begin within 24 hours. These symptoms can be present across most of the body or just certain areas such as the wrists, between fingers, or along the waistline. The head may be affected, but this is typically only in young children. The itch is often worse at night. Scratching may cause skin breakdown and an additional bacterial infection in the skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louse</span> Order of insects

Louse is the common name for any member of the clade Phthiraptera, which contains nearly 5,000 species of wingless parasitic insects. Phthiraptera has variously been recognized as an order, infraorder, or a parvorder, as a result of developments in phylogenetic research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sucking louse</span> Suborder of insects

Sucking lice have around 500 species and represent the smaller of the two traditional superfamilies of lice. As opposed to the paraphyletic chewing lice, which are now divided among three suborders, the sucking lice are monophyletic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crab louse</span> Species of insect

The crab louse or pubic louse is an insect that is an obligate ectoparasite of humans, feeding exclusively on blood. The crab louse usually is found in the person's pubic hair. Although the louse cannot jump, it can also live in other areas of the body that are covered with coarse hair, such as the perianal area, the entire body, and the eyelashes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head louse</span> Insect parasite of humans

The head louse is an obligate ectoparasite of humans. Head lice are wingless insects that spend their entire lives on the human scalp and feed exclusively on human blood. Humans are the only known hosts of this specific parasite, while chimpanzees and bonobos host a closely related species, Pediculus schaeffi. Other species of lice infest most orders of mammals and all orders of birds.

Trench fever is a moderately serious disease transmitted by body lice. It infected armies in Flanders, France, Poland, Galicia, Italy, Macedonia, Mesopotamia, Russia and Egypt in World War I. Three noted cases during WWI were the authors J. R. R. Tolkien, A. A. Milne, and C. S. Lewis. From 1915 to 1918 between one-fifth and one-third of all British troops reported ill had trench fever while about one-fifth of ill German and Austrian troops had the disease. The disease persists among the homeless. Outbreaks have been documented, for example, in Seattle and Baltimore in the United States among injection drug users and in Marseille, France, and Burundi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citronella oil</span> Fragrant essential oil derived from lemongrass

Citronella oil is an essential oil obtained from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon (lemongrass). The oil is used extensively as a source of perfumery chemicals such as citronellal, citronellol, and geraniol. These chemicals find extensive use in soap, candles and incense, perfumery, cosmetic, and flavouring industries throughout the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tinea corporis</span> Medical condition

Tinea corporis is a fungal infection of the body, similar to other forms of tinea. Specifically, it is a type of dermatophytosis that appears on the arms and legs, especially on glabrous skin; however, it may occur on any superficial part of the body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dermatophytosis</span> Fungal infection of the skin

Dermatophytosis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin (Dermatomycosis). Typically it results in a red, itchy, scaly, circular rash. Hair loss may occur in the area affected. Symptoms begin four to fourteen days after exposure. Multiple areas can be affected at a given time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treatment of human lice</span>

The treatment of human lice is the removal of head lice parasites from human hair. It has been debated and studied for centuries. However, the number of cases of human louse infestations has increased worldwide since the mid-1960s, reaching hundreds of millions annually. There is no product or method that assures 100% destruction of the eggs and hatched lice after a single treatment. However, there are a number of treatment modalities that can be employed with varying degrees of success. These methods include chemical treatments, natural products, combs, shaving, hot air, and silicone-based lotions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Body louse</span> Subspecies of insect

The body louse is a hematophagic ectoparasite louse that infests humans. It is one of three lice which infest humans, the other two being the head louse, and the crab louse or pubic louse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Use of DNA in forensic entomology</span>

Forensic entomology has three sub-fields: urban, stored product and medico-criminal entomologies. This article focuses on medico-criminal entomology and how DNA is analyzed with various blood-feeding insects.

Whitfield's ointment is an acidic ointment used for the topical treatment of dermatophytosis, such as athlete's foot. It can have a slight burning effect that goes away after a few minutes. It is named after Arthur Whitfield (1868–1947), a British dermatologist.

An ectoparasiticide is an antiparasitic drug used in the treatment of ectoparasitic infestations. These drugs are used to kill the parasites that live on the body surface. Permethrin, sulfur, lindane, dicophane, benzyl benzoate, ivermectin and crotamiton are well known ectoparasiticides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head lice infestation</span> Medical condition

Head lice infestation, also known as pediculosis capitis, is the infection of the head hair and scalp by the head louse. Itching from lice bites is common. During a person's first infection, the itch may not develop for up to six weeks. If a person is infected again, symptoms may begin much more quickly. The itch may cause problems with sleeping. Generally, however, it is not a serious condition. While head lice appear to spread some other diseases in Africa, they do not appear to do so in Europe or North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No nit policy</span> Public health policy

No nit policy is a public health policy implemented by some education authorities to prevent the transmission of head lice infestation. The "no nit" policy requires the sending home and barring of all children who have nits on their hair from controlled settings such as school, summer camp or day care facilities. The CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) advocate that "no-nit" policies should be discontinued, due in part because nits, the eggs or empty egg shells, are not transmissible and the burden of unnecessary absenteeism to the students, families and communities far outweighs the risks associated with head lice. Proponents of the no-nit policy counter that only a consistently nit-free child can be reliably shown to be infestation-free. That is, the presence of nits serves as a proxy for infestation status. Proponents argue that such a proxy is necessary because lice screening is prone to false negative conclusions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pediculosis corporis</span> Medical condition

Pediculosis corporis or Vagabond's disease is a cutaneous condition caused by body lice that lay their eggs on clothing and to a lesser extent on human hairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pediculosis pubis</span> Infestation by the pubic louse

Pediculosis pubis is an infestation by the pubic louse, Pthirus pubis, a wingless insect which feeds on blood and lays its eggs (nits) on mainly pubic hair. Less commonly, hair near the anus, armpit, beard, eyebrows, moustache, and eyelashes may be involved. It is usually acquired during sex, but can be spread via bedding, clothing and towels, and is more common in crowded conditions where there is close contact between people.

Abametapir, sold under the brand name Xeglyze, is a medication used for the treatment of head lice infestation in people six months of age and older.

References

  1. ↑ "Head Louse Infestations by Prof. Kosta Y. Mumcuoglu, PhD". Head Louse Infestations by PROF. KOSTA Y. MUMCUOGLU, PhD. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  2. ↑ Maunder JW (1983). "The appreciation of lice". Proceedings of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. 55. London: Royal Institution of Great Britain: 1–31.
  3. ↑ James WD, Berger TG, et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN   978-0-7216-2921-6.
  4. ↑ Mumcuoglu KY, Pollack RJ, Reed DL, Barker SC, Gordon S, Toloza AC, et al. (March 2021). "International recommendations for an effective control of head louse infestations". International Journal of Dermatology. 60 (3): 272–280. doi:10.1111/ijd.15096. PMC   7984059 . PMID   32767380.
  5. ↑ Yuping R (2016). "Observation of Fungi, Bacteria, and Parasites in Clinical Skin Samples Using Scanning Electron Microscopy". In Janecek, Milos, Kral, Robert (eds.). Modern Electron Microscopy in Physical and Life Sciences. InTech. doi:10.5772/61850. ISBN   978-953-51-2252-4. S2CID   53472683.
  6. 1 2 Leung AK, Robson LM (May 1, 2008). "Pruritus in Children: What's Itching?". Consultant for Pediatricians.
  7. 1 2 Ko C, Elson DM (2016). "Chapter 30. Pediculosis". In Tyring SK, Lupi O, Hengge UR (eds.). Tropical Dermatology (2nd ed.). Elsevier Inc. p. 387. ISBN   978-0-323-296342.
  8. ↑ Mumcuoglu KY, Friger M, Ioffe-Uspensky I, Ben-Ishai F, Miller J (2001). "Louse comb versus direct visual examination for the diagnosis of head louse infestations". Pediatric Dermatology. 18 (1): 9–12. doi:10.1046/j.1525-1470.2001.018001009.x. PMID   11207962. S2CID   27464495.
  9. ↑ Gratz N (1998). "Human lice, their prevalence and resistance to insecticides" (PDF). Geneva: World Health Organization (WHO).
  10. ↑ Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, common alcohol) is toxic to arthropods including lice. It can be mixed with the everyday hair conditioner for a treatment.
    Marriott JF (2010). Pharmaceutical Compounding and Dispensing. Pharmaceutical Press. p. 77. ISBN   9780853699125. ALCOHOL. After water, this is probably the next most important solvent used pharmaceutically. Although ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is rarely used as a lone solvent for preparations for internal use, it is used in the manufacture of some of the galenicals used in pharmacy (e.g. tinctures, see Chapter 2). In extemporaneous dispensing it is normally used for the production of lotions for external application to unbroken skin. It is particularly useful if rapid evaporation is required (e.g. for insecticidal lotions applied to hair for the treatment of lice).
    Ethanol as an arthropod killing solution. Szinwelski N, Fialho VS, Yotoko KS, Seleme LR, Sperber CF (2012). "Ethanol fuel improves arthropod capture in pitfall traps and preserves DNA". ZooKeys (196): 11–22. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.196.3130 . PMC   3361084 . PMID   22679388. It has been shown that at concentrations higher than 95%, commercial alcohol preserves DNA (Nagy 2010), but the use of highly concentrated commercial alcohol as a killing solution may be prohibitively expensive when needed in large quantities, such as in large-scale biodiversity sampling. In Brazil, for example, it is illegal to carry large amounts of commercial alcohol on long journeys, which could hinder its use in extensive field expeditions. Here we propose the use of ethanol fuel as a cheaper and logistically feasible alternative
  11. ↑ Gunning K, Pippitt K, Kiraly B, Sayler M (September 2012). "Pediculosis and scabies: treatment update" (PDF). American Family Physician. 86 (6): 535–541. PMID   23062045.
  12. ↑ Verma P, Namdeo C (2015). "Treatment of Pediculosis Capitis". Indian Journal of Dermatology. 60 (3): 238–247. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.156339 . PMC   4458933 . PMID   26120148.
  13. ↑ Pollack RJ, Kiszewski AE, Spielman A (August 2000). "Overdiagnosis and consequent mismanagement of head louse infestations in North America". The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 19 (8): 689–93, discussion 694. doi:10.1097/00006454-200008000-00003. PMID   10959734. S2CID   2557006.
  14. ↑ Burgess IF (January 2004). "Human lice and their control". Annual Review of Entomology. 49. Annual Reviews: 457–481. doi:10.1146/annurev.ento.49.061802.123253. PMID   14651472. S2CID   21144817.
  15. ↑ Mumcuoglu KY, Barker SC, Burgess IE, Combescot-Lang C, Dalgleish RC, Larsen KS, et al. (April 2007). "International guidelines for effective control of head louse infestations". Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 6 (4): 409–414. PMID   17668538.
  16. ↑ "Lice (Pediculosis) - What are lice?". Archived from the original on 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  17. ↑ Head lice and nits - NHS Choices. Nhs.uk (2016-05-17). Retrieved on 2016-10-14.
  18. ↑ Buxton PA (1947). "The Anatomy of Pediculus humanus". The Louse; an account of the lice which [sic] infest man, their medical importance and control (2nd ed.). London: Edward Arnold. pp. 5–23.
  19. 1 2 Hussain MA, Khan MN, Iqbal Z, Sajid MS, Arshad M (2006). "Bovine pediculosis: prevalence and chemotherapeutic control in Pakistan". Livestock Research for Rural Development. 18 (145). Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  20. ↑ "Lice (Pediculosis)". The Merck Veterinary Manual. Raleigh, NJ USA: Merck & Co. 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  21. ↑ Fornaciari G, Giuffra V, Marinozzi S, Picchi MS, Masetti M (July 2009). "'Royal' pediculosis in Renaissance Italy: lice in the mummy of the King of Naples Ferdinand II of Aragon (1467-1496)". Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. 104 (4): 671–672. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762009000400026 . hdl: 1807/57886 . PMID   19722098.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.