1. Brought to you by: Steph Covey and Ashley Zawacki
Head and Body Lice

2. Background Information
Order: Phthiraptera
Suborder: Anoplura (sucking lice)
Pediculus humanus capitis
Common name: head lice
Pediculus humanus humanus
Common name: body lice
Obligate ectoparasites of humans
Direct Life Cycle

3. Both Head and Body Lice found worldwide
Geographic Range
Both Head and Body Lice found worldwide

4. Host Definitive Host: both head and body lice infest humans
Head Lice most commonly infests:
Children ages 3-11
Females
Body Lice most commonly infests:
all races and ages, especially those with poor hygiene
Intermediate Host: none (direct lifecycle)

5. Morphology Nits (eggs) Nymphs Adults Oval-shaped 0.8 mm by 0.3 mm
Look like the adult form about the size of a pin head
Adults
About size of sesame seed
Six legs (each with claws)
Wingless, dorsoventrally flattened
Eyes – reduced or none

6. Morphology continued Head Lice Body Lice Males 1-1.5 mm
Females 1.8-2mm
Body Lice
Males 2-3 mm
Females 2-4 mm

7. Transmission Direct contact with person already infested
Contact with infested fomites:
Wearing clothing worn by infested person
Using infested combs, brushes, towels
Lying on a bed, couch, pillow, etc that was recently in contact with an infested person

9. Pathogenesis
Not life threatening unless the lice carries a disease-causing organism
Progression of Symptoms
Bite causes a red papule to develop at the site
Rash caused by reaction to bite
Pruritis (intense itching)
Itching can lead to open sore and secondary bacterial infection

10. Rash from lice infestation
Head Lice Bites
Abscess caused by lice infestation

11. Head Lice Body Lice Causes: plica polonica Causes: Vagabond’s Disease
Tangled, matted hair shafts
Hair becomes moist and sticky
Body Lice
Causes: Vagabond’s Disease
Dark and thickened skin
Results from chronic, heavy infestation

12. Diseases Three diseases transmitted by body lice: Typhus Trench fever
Fatal disease for louse
Passed in feces of louse and enter when skin scratched
Trench fever
Not pathogenic to louse so carry for life
Relapsing fever
Only enter human when louse is crushed during scratching

13. Diagnosis Head lice Body lice
Live nymphs or adults on the scalp or in the hair
Numerous nits within 6 mm of scalp
Shine light on scalp, nits and lice appear as yellow-green fluorescent spots
Body lice
Nits or crawling lice on seams of clothing
Usually can be seen with the naked eye, but sometimes a magnifying glass is necessary

14. Head louse
Body Lice

15. Treatment for Head lice
Apply Pediculicide to hair, then comb through hair with fine-toothed nit comb
Over the counter medications:
Pyrethrins and Permethrin lotion - only kills lice not nits
Prescription strength:
Malathion lotion
Lindane shampoo

16. Treatment for body lice
Improving personal hygiene
regular change of clean clothes
Clothing, bedding, etc washed in hot water and dried on high setting
Sometimes use pediculicide

17. Control and Prevention
Head lice
Don’t share hair items
Avoid head-on-head contact
Body lice
Bathe regularly
Change into properly washed clothes at least once a week
DO NOT SHARE ITEMS WITH AN INFESTED PERSON!!!!!!!

18. References http://dermatology.about.com/cs/headlice/a/headlice.htm