Pediculosis

Infested with lice. Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are parasitic insects found on the heads of people. Having head lice is very common. Anyone can get head lice who comes in close contact with someone who already has head lice, contaminated clothing, and other belongings. Preschool and elementary-age children and their families are infested most often. Girls get head lice more often than boys, women more than men. African-Americans rarely get head lice. Head lice are most commonly found on the scalp behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the neck. Head lice hold on to hair with hook-like claws found at the end of each of their six legs. Head lice are rarely found on the body, eyelashes, or eyebrows. The signs and symptoms of head lice infestation include a tickling feeling of something moving in the hair, itching (caused by the an allergic reaction to the bites), irritability, and sores on the head (caused by scratching).

* * *

The state of being infested with lice. [L. pediculus, louse, + G. -osis, condition]

- p. capitis the presence of lice on the scalp, seen especially in children, with nits attached to hairs.

- p. corporis the presence of body lice that live in the seams of clothing. Biting causes pruritus and excoriations.

- p. palpebrarum the presence of lice in the eyelashes.

- p. pubis infestation with the pubic or crab louse, Pthirus pubis, especially in pubic hair, causing pruritus and maculae ceruleae.

* * *

pe·dic·u·lo·sis pi-.dik-yə-'lō-səs n, pl -lo·ses -.sēz infestation with lice called also lousiness

* * *

n.

an infestation with lice, which causes intense itching; continued scratching by the patient may result in secondary bacterial infection of the skin. Head lice (pediculosis capitis; see Pediculus) are quite common in schoolchildren and do not indicate poor hygiene; they may be treated with malathion, carbaryl, or permethrin lotions and/or by the use of a fine-toothed nit comb. By contrast, body lice (pediculosis corporis) affect vagabonds and refugees; help is required from social services. Pubic lice (Phthirus, the <

* * *

pe·dic·u·lo·sis (pə-dik″u-loґsis) [pediculus + -osis] infestation with lice of the family Pediculidae, especially infestation with Pediculus humanus.