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Louse infestation

MedGen UID:
18339
•Concept ID:
C0030756
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Infestation, Lice; Infestations, Lice; Lice Infestation; Lice Infestations; Pediculoses; Pediculosis
SNOMED CT: Louse infestation (414618002); Infestation caused by Pediculus (20848007); Infestation by Pediculus (20848007); Pediculosis (20848007)

Definition

A contagious infestation of parasitic insects found on the head (Pediculus humanus capitis), body (Pediculus humanus corporis), or pubic area (Pthirus pubis) that typically cause itching and rash. [from NCI]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVLouse infestation

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Ancient treatment for lice: a source of suggestions for carriers of other infectious diseases?
Vicentini CB, Manfredini S, Contini C
Infez Med 2018 Jun 1;26(2):181-192. PMID: 29932096
Designing randomized-controlled trials to improve head-louse treatment: systematic review using a vignette-based method.
Do-Pham G, Le Cleach L, Giraudeau B, Maruani A, Chosidow O, Ravaud P
J Invest Dermatol 2014 Mar;134(3):628-634. Epub 2013 Oct 11 doi: 10.1038/jid.2013.414. PMID: 24121401
Prevention and treatment of head lice in children.
Mumcuoglu KY
Paediatr Drugs 1999 Jul-Sep;1(3):211-8. doi: 10.2165/00128072-199901030-00005. PMID: 10937452

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Pediculosis knowledge among schoolchildren parents and its relation with head lice prevalence.
Souza AB, Morais PC, Dorea JPSP, Fonseca ABM, Nakashima FT, Corrêa LL, França PO, Bastos OMP, Barbosa AS, Uchôa CMA
An Acad Bras Cienc 2022;94(2):e20210337. Epub 2022 Jun 17 doi: 10.1590/0001-3765202220210337. PMID: 35730862
Ectoparasites: Pediculosis and tungiasis.
Coates SJ, Thomas C, Chosidow O, Engelman D, Chang AY
J Am Acad Dermatol 2020 Mar;82(3):551-569. Epub 2019 Jul 13 doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.05.110. PMID: 31306729
Designing randomized-controlled trials to improve head-louse treatment: systematic review using a vignette-based method.
Do-Pham G, Le Cleach L, Giraudeau B, Maruani A, Chosidow O, Ravaud P
J Invest Dermatol 2014 Mar;134(3):628-634. Epub 2013 Oct 11 doi: 10.1038/jid.2013.414. PMID: 24121401
Pediculosis capitis: an update.
Madke B, Khopkar U
Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2012 Jul-Aug;78(4):429-38. doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.98072. PMID: 22772612
Bartonella (Rochalimaea) quintana infections.
Maurin M, Raoult D
Clin Microbiol Rev 1996 Jul;9(3):273-92. doi: 10.1128/CMR.9.3.273. PMID: 8809460Free PMC Article

Diagnosis

Human pediculosis, a global public health problem.
Fu YT, Yao C, Deng YP, Elsheikha HM, Shao R, Zhu XQ, Liu GH
Infect Dis Poverty 2022 May 26;11(1):58. doi: 10.1186/s40249-022-00986-w. PMID: 35619191Free PMC Article
Ectoparasites: Pediculosis and tungiasis.
Coates SJ, Thomas C, Chosidow O, Engelman D, Chang AY
J Am Acad Dermatol 2020 Mar;82(3):551-569. Epub 2019 Jul 13 doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.05.110. PMID: 31306729
Pediculosis capitis: an update.
Madke B, Khopkar U
Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2012 Jul-Aug;78(4):429-38. doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.98072. PMID: 22772612
Epidemic typhus.
Bechah Y, Capo C, Mege JL, Raoult D
Lancet Infect Dis 2008 Jul;8(7):417-26. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(08)70150-6. PMID: 18582834
Pediculosis.
Ko CJ, Elston DM
J Am Acad Dermatol 2004 Jan;50(1):1-12; quiz 13-4. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(03)02729-4. PMID: 14699358

Therapy

Ectoparasites: Pediculosis and tungiasis.
Coates SJ, Thomas C, Chosidow O, Engelman D, Chang AY
J Am Acad Dermatol 2020 Mar;82(3):551-569. Epub 2019 Jul 13 doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.05.110. PMID: 31306729
Ancient treatment for lice: a source of suggestions for carriers of other infectious diseases?
Vicentini CB, Manfredini S, Contini C
Infez Med 2018 Jun 1;26(2):181-192. PMID: 29932096
Pediculosis capitis: an update.
Madke B, Khopkar U
Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2012 Jul-Aug;78(4):429-38. doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.98072. PMID: 22772612
Pediculosis.
Elgart ML
Dermatol Clin 1990 Apr;8(2):219-28. PMID: 1693887
Pediculosis ciliaris.
Chin GN, Denslow GT
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1978 May-Jun;15(3):173-5. doi: 10.3928/0191-3913-19780501-14. PMID: 84072

Prognosis

Clinical studies evaluating abametapir lotion, 0.74%, for the treatment of head louse infestation.
Bowles VM, VanLuvanee LJ, Alsop H, Hazan L, Shepherd K, Sidgiddi S, Allenby K, Ahveninen T, Hanegraaf S
Pediatr Dermatol 2018 Sep;35(5):616-621. Epub 2018 Jul 12 doi: 10.1111/pde.13612. PMID: 29999197Free PMC Article
Epidemiological comparative study of pediculosis capitis among primary school children in Fayoum and Minofiya governorates, Egypt.
Abd El Raheem TA, El Sherbiny NA, Elgameel A, El-Sayed GA, Moustafa N, Shahen S
J Community Health 2015 Apr;40(2):222-6. doi: 10.1007/s10900-014-9920-0. PMID: 25086565
Treatment of head louse infestation with 4% dimeticone lotion: randomised controlled equivalence trial.
Burgess IF, Brown CM, Lee PN
BMJ 2005 Jun 18;330(7505):1423. Epub 2005 Jun 10 doi: 10.1136/bmj.38497.506481.8F. PMID: 15951310Free PMC Article
Outbreak of epidemic typhus associated with trench fever in Burundi.
Raoult D, Ndihokubwayo JB, Tissot-Dupont H, Roux V, Faugere B, Abegbinni R, Birtles RJ
Lancet 1998 Aug 1;352(9125):353-8. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(97)12433-3. PMID: 9717922
Bartonella (Rochalimaea) quintana infections.
Maurin M, Raoult D
Clin Microbiol Rev 1996 Jul;9(3):273-92. doi: 10.1128/CMR.9.3.273. PMID: 8809460Free PMC Article

Clinical prediction guides

Prevalence of head louse infestation among primary schoolchildren in the Republic of Korea: nationwide observation of trends in 2011-2019.
Ryoo S, Hong S, Chang T, Shin H, Park JY, Lee J, Nah EH, Lee EH, Jung BK, Chai JY
Parasites Hosts Dis 2023 Feb;61(1):53-59. Epub 2023 Feb 22 doi: 10.3347/PHD.22134. PMID: 37170464Free PMC Article
Comparative efficacy of permethrin 1%, lindane 1%, and dimeticone 4% for the treatment of head louse infestation in Iran.
Kassiri H, Fahdani AE, Cheraghian B
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021 Jan;28(3):3506-3514. Epub 2020 Sep 12 doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-10686-3. PMID: 32918266
Evaluation of the genotoxicity of the pyrethroid insecticide phenothrin.
Nagy K, Rácz G, Matsumoto T, Ádány R, Ádám B
Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen 2014 Aug;770:1-5. Epub 2014 May 14 doi: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2014.05.001. PMID: 25344157
The body louse as a vector of reemerging human diseases.
Raoult D, Roux V
Clin Infect Dis 1999 Oct;29(4):888-911. doi: 10.1086/520454. PMID: 10589908
Bartonella (Rochalimaea) quintana infections.
Maurin M, Raoult D
Clin Microbiol Rev 1996 Jul;9(3):273-92. doi: 10.1128/CMR.9.3.273. PMID: 8809460Free PMC Article

Recent systematic reviews

Occlusive versus neurotoxic agents for topical treatment of head lice infestation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Flores-Genuino RNS, Gnilo CMS, Dofitas BL
Pediatr Dermatol 2020 Jan;37(1):86-92. Epub 2019 Oct 22 doi: 10.1111/pde.14016. PMID: 31642120
Designing randomized-controlled trials to improve head-louse treatment: systematic review using a vignette-based method.
Do-Pham G, Le Cleach L, Giraudeau B, Maruani A, Chosidow O, Ravaud P
J Invest Dermatol 2014 Mar;134(3):628-634. Epub 2013 Oct 11 doi: 10.1038/jid.2013.414. PMID: 24121401

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