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Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are parasitic insects that infest…
Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are parasitic insects that infest the hairs of the human head and feed on blood from the scalp. Head lice infestation is known as pediculosis capitis
Background
Severity- a few lice < 10 to > 100, severe cases >1000, typical infestation approx 30 per head.
The life span of a louse is very short once it is detached from a human head (1–2 days), as lice are completely dependent on their human host for nutrition and warmth
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more common in girls than boys, can affect any age, but peaks between 4-11year olds
Life cycle
Nymphs are baby lice that hatch from the eggs. They look like the adults but are about the size of a pinhead. They are pearly white in colour and generally take about 7–10 days to mature into adult lice
Adult head lice are approx up to 3 mm long. Tan to grey in colour and have six legs ending in hook-like claws to hold onto the hair. The female louse lays anywhere from 50–150 eggs during her 30–40-day lifespan
ova- laid close to the scalp surface and are strongly attached to the hair with a glue-like substance. They are oval shaped, translucent, may be confused with dandruff, and usually take about 7–10 days to hatch
Complications
Anxiety, distress, and stigma in people who do not understand that the condition is benign and does not indicate substandard hygiene
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Pruritic rash on the back of the neck and behind the ears, caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to louse faeces.
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Differential
Seborrhoeic scales, hair muffs, and hair spray particles can be brushed off
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Management
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Wet combing — this is the systematic combing of wet hair with a louse detection comb to remove head lice
A physical insecticide — these silicone or fatty acid ester-based products kill the lice by physically coating their surfaces and suffocating them, so resistance is unlikely to develop
it is helpful to speak to the pharmacist as if there is an outbreak locally he will know best product to use
regular weekly detection combing after treatment, keep hair tied back, information and advice leaflet
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