Contents

Search

anoplura (sucking lice)

Sucking lice. (see head lice) Epidemiology: 1) transmitted from person to person [3] 2) rarely spread from environmental surfaces Pathology: - see louse-borne infection Management: 1) permethrin (Elimite, Nix) is treatment of choice - combination of permethrin plus Bactrim for 10 days appears more effective than permethrin alone [2]* 2) malathion (Ovide) is drug of choice for failure of permethrin 3) lindane (Kwell) (refractory infestation) - may be neurotoxic 4) ivermectin 12 mg PO weekly, 3 doses 5) Nuvo lotion (not yet available <2004>) [4] 6) clean combs, brushes, clothes, bedding 7) heat clothes, bed in dryer for at least 10 minutes 8) careful combing with clean comb [5] * Blood containing Bactrim ingested by lice inhibits the intestinal flora of the lice. The flora synthesize B-vitamins which the lice need for survival.

Related

flea (Siphonaptera)-borne infection louse (Anoplura)-borne infection Pediculus capitis (head louse)

Specific

pediculidae

General

insect

Properties

KINGDOM: animal PHYLUM: arthropod ORGANISM-CLASS: INSECTA ORDER: anoplura

References

  1. Journal Watch 20(24):195, 2000 De Maeseneer J et al Wet combing versus traditional scalp inspection to detect head lice in schoolchildren: observational study. BMJ 321:1187, 2000 PMID: 11073509
  2. Journal Watch 21(7):59, 2001 Hipolito et al, Head lice infestation: single drug versus combination therapy with 1% permethrin & trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Pediatrics 197:e30, 2001 PMID: 11230611
  3. Prescriber's Letter 10(5):28 2003
  4. Prescriber's Letter 11(11):63 2004 Suffocation-Based Treatment for Head Lice Detail-Document#: 201108 (subscription needed) http://www.prescribersletter.com
  5. Hill N et al, Single blind, randomised, comparative study of the Bug Buster kit and over the counter pediculicide treatments against head lice in the United Kingdom. BMJ 2005 Aug 13; 331:384-7 PMID: 16085658 http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/331/7513/384
  6. Foucault C et al, Oral ivermectin in the treatment of body lice J Infect Dis 2006, 193:474 PMID: 16388498
  7. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 15, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2009