Search
Pediculus humanus (body louse)
Epidemiology:
1) body lice remain in clothing except when feeding
2) unable to survive more than a few hours away from human hosts
3) affects largely disaster victims or indigent who do not change their clothing
4) body lice leave febrile persons or corpses as the become cold, thus facilitating transmission of epidemic typhus, trench fever & relapsing fever
5) transmissible infestation
6) transmission occurs by direct contact or sharing of clothing or bed & is enhanced in crowded conditions
7) females firmly cement their eggs to clothing
8) vector of epidemic typhus, trench fever & relapsing fever
Clinical manifestations:
1) pruritic lesions are especially common around the neckline
2) excoriations resulting in crusted papules or linear petechiae on trunk, neck, proximal arms
3) chronic infestations result in postinflammatory hyperpigmentation & thickening of skin known as vagabond disease
Complications:
- body louse infestation is a risk factor for endocarditis due to Baronella quintana [3]
Management:
1) bathing
2) topical permethrin 1% or malathion 0.5% kills both lice & eggs
3) clothing & bedding are deloused by heat sterilization in a dryer at 65 degrees C for 30 minutes or by fumigation
Related
lindane (Kwell, Scabene)
pediculosis; phthiriasis (lice infestation, vagabond disease)
permethrin (Elimite, Nix)
General
Pediculus
Properties
KINGDOM: animal
PHYLUM: arthropod
ORGANISM-CLASS: INSECTA
ORDER: anoplura
FAMILY: pediculidae
GENUS: Pediculus
References
- Clinical Diagnosis & Management by Laboratory Methods,
19th edition, J.B. Henry (ed), W.B. Saunders Co.,
Philadelphia, PA. 1996, pg 1301
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed.
Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994, pg 935
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 15,
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2009