RT Book, Section
A1 Shah, Ashish
A1 Sobolewski, Brad
A1 Mittiga, Matthew R.
A2 Knoop, Kevin J.
A2 Stack, Lawrence B.
A2 Storrow, Alan B.
A2 Thurman, R. Jason
SR Print(0)
ID 1181044698
T1 Lice
T2 The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e
YR 2021
FD 2021
PB McGraw-Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260134940
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181044698
RD 2024/04/18
AB There  are  three  varieties  of  lice  specifically  parasitic  to  humans:  Pediculus  humanus  capitis  (head  louse),  which  infests  the  hair  and  scalp;  Pthirus  pubis  (crab  louse),  which  infests  the  pubic  hair;  and  Pediculus  humanus  corporis  (body  louse).  Affected  patients  may  be  asymptomatic  or  may  have  pruritus.  The  diagnosis  is  made  via  visual  examination  whereby  crawling  lice  (nymphs  and  adults)  and  eggs  (nits)  are  found  on  hair  shafts.  The  treatment  is  topical  pediculicides  (including  permethrin,  malathion,  benzyl  alcohol,  spinosad,  and  topical  ivermectin)  and  wet  combing  to  remove  lice  and  nits.  Lindane  has  an  association  with  neurotoxicity,  and  its  use  should  be  avoided  in  children.  Of  note,  nits  may  persist  for  several  weeks  following  therapy.  The  differential  diagnosis  includes  pseudonits  (2-  to  7-mm  hair  casts),  psoriasis,  cutaneous  fungal  infections,  scabies,  seborrheic  dermatitis,  and  dandruff.