pediculosis; phthiriasis (lice infestation, vagabond disease)

Etiology

• Pediculus capitis (head lice)
• Pediculus humanus (body lice, vagabond disease)
• Phthirus pubis (pubic lice)

Epidemiology

• all 3 species of human lice feed at least once a day on human blood
• females firmly cement their eggs to hair or clothing

Pathology

• saliva of lice produces an intensely pruritic maculopapular or urticarial rash

Clinical manifestations

• pruritus
• maculopapular or urticarial rash
• postinflammatory hyperpigmentation & thickening of skin

* image phthiriasis palpebrarum

Laboratory

• finding of lice on hairs or clothing

Management

• topical permethrin 1% or malathion 0.5% kills both lice & eggs
• 1% lindane is NOT ovicidal & requires a 2nd application after 1 week to kill hatching nymphs

More general terms

• infestation; ectoparasitic infection

Additional terms

• pediculidae