What are head lice?

The head louse, or Pediculushumanuscapitis, is a

parasitic insect that can be found on the head, eyebrows, and
eyelashes of people. Head lice feed on human blood several
time a day and live close to the human scalp. Head lice are
not known to spread disease.

They are typically 1/6-1/8 inches long, brownish in
color with darker margins. The claws on the end of each of
their legs are well adapted to grasping a hair strand.

LIFECYCLE OF A LOUSE

Adult females lay 3-
10 nits (eggs) a day and as
many as 60-100 in their 30
day lifetime. Nits are attached
to a hair with fixative cement
secreted by the louse that
makes them difficult to
remove.

Nits hatch in 7-10
days. Nits cannot hatch at
temperatures less than 82oF, but may remain viable and
hatch if returned to an optimum temperature between 82o-
95oF. Therefore, cold does not kill nits.

Once hatched, the baby louse, called a nymph, goes
through three stages before becoming an adult capable of
reproducing. This takes 7-12 days. Lice need a blood meal
within 5 hours of hatching or they die. After that they can
survive 6-48 hours away from a host.





Who is at risk for getting head lice?

Head lice move by crawling; they
cannot hop or fly. Head lice are spread by direct contact with
the hair of an infested person. Anyone who comes in head-to-
head contact with someone who already has head lice is at
greatest risk. Spread by contact with clothing (such as hats,
scarves, coats) or other personal items (such as combs,
brushes, or towels) used by an infested person is uncommon.
Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has
nothing to do with getting head lice.
What are the signs
and symptoms of head
lice infestation?
Tickling feeling of
something moving in the
hair.
Itching, caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the
head louse.
Irritability and difficulty sleeping; head lice are most active
in the dark.
Sores on the head caused by scratching. These sores can
sometimes become infected with bacteria found on the
person's skin.
How are head lice infestation diagnosed?

The diagnosis of a head lice infestation is
best made by finding a live nymph or adult
louse on the scalp or hair of a person.
Because nymphs and adult lice are very
small, move quickly, and avoid light, they
can be difficult to find. Use of a magnifying lens and a fine-
toothed comb may be helpful to find live lice. If crawling lice
are not seen, finding nits firmly attached within a inch of
base of the hair shafts strongly suggests, but does not
confirm, that a person is infested and should be treated. Nits
that are attached more than inch from the base of the hair
shaft are almost always dead or already hatched. Nits are
often confused with other things found in the hair such as
dandruff, hair spray droplets, and dirt particles. If no live
nymphs or adult lice are seen, and the only nits found are
more than -inch from the scalp, the infestation is probably
old and no longer active and does not need to be treated.

TREATMENT

Treatment for head lice infestation involves three things:
Killing and/or removing the live lice
Removing all the nits
Cleaning the environment (bedding, furniture,
clothes, toys, etc.)

There are several over-the-counter lice treatments
andtwo prescription medications to treat lice (pediculides).

Directions should be carefully followed when using any lice
treatment. Minor variations in how they are applied can result
in treatment failure. Some lice
treatments are ineffective if a
creme rinse is on the hair before
treatment.

PREVENTION

Head lice infestations are
bothersome and can take a lotof
time to clear up. So, prevention is
important. Teach your children
not to share combs, brushes, hair
ornaments and hats. This
includes trying on hats in the
department store! Have your children place their hats inside
their jacket sleeve. Most importantly, do regular head
check on your children. That way you are likely to catch an
infestation before it gets too far or spreads to other family
members.





















`






Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Anthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phthiraptera
Suborder: Anoplura (sucking lice)










Share a toy, share a slide, share the feelings deep
inside, but never share a hat or comb or lice could
make your head their home!




by:
Jovy J. Setiar
BS Laboratory Science III
























Pediculushumanuscapitis
(Head Lice)








What are pubic lice?



Pthirus pubis(Pubic lice)also called crab lice or
"crabs," pubic lice are parasitic insects found primarily in the
pubic or genital area of humans. Pubic lice infestation is found
worldwide and occurs in all races, ethnic groups, and levels of
society.

Adult pubic lice are 1.11.8 mm in length. Pubic lice
typically are found attached to hair in the pubic area but
sometimes are found on coarse hair elsewhere on the body
(for example, eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, mustache, chest,
armpits, etc.).

LIFECYCLE OF A LOUSE

Adult females lay
3-10 nits (eggs) a day
and as many as 60-100
in their 30 day lifetime.
Nits are attached to a
hair with fixative cement
secreted by the louse
that makes them difficult
to remove.

Nits hatch in 7-
10 days. Nits cannot hatch at temperatures less than 82oF,
but may remain viable and hatch if returned to an optimum
temperature between 82o-95oF. Therefore, cold does not kill
nits.
Once hatched, the baby louse, called a nymph, goes
through three stages before becoming an adult capable of
reproducing. This takes 7-12 days. Lice need a blood meal
within 5 hours of hatching or they die. After that they can
survive 6-48 hours away from a host.


Who is at risk for getting pubic lice?

Pubic ("crab") lice infestation is found
worldwide and occurs in all races and ethnic groups and in all
levels of society. Pubic lice usually are spread through sexual
contact and are most common in adults. Occasionally pubic
lice may be spread by close personal contact or contact with
articles such as clothing, bed linens, and towels that have
been used by an infested person. Pubic lice found on the head
or eyelashes of children may be an indication of sexual
exposure or abuse.
Pubic lice do not transmit disease; however, secondary
bacterial infection can occur from scratching of the skin.
What are the signs and
symptoms of pubic lice
infestation?
Itching in the genital
area
Visible nits (lice eggs)
or crawling lice
Tiny blue bumps on the skin called macula caerulea
How is pubic lice infestation diagnosed?
A pubic lice infestation is diagnosed by
finding a "crab" louse or egg (nit) on hair in
the pubic region or, less commonly,
elsewhere on the body (eyebrows, eyelashes,
beard, mustache, armpit, perianal area,
groin, trunk, scalp). Pubic lice may be difficult to find because
there may be only a few. Pubic lice often attach themselves
to more than one hair and generally do not crawl as quickly
as head and body lice. If crawling lice are not seen, finding
nits in the pubic area strongly suggests that a person is
infested and should be treated. If you are unsure about
infestation or if treatment is not successful, see a health care
provider for a diagnosis. Persons infested with pubic lice
should be investigated for the presence of other sexually
transmitted diseases.
Although pubic lice and nits can be large enough to
be seen with the naked eye, a magnifying lens may be
necessary to find lice or eggs.

TREATMENT
Malathion (Ovide). You apply this prescription
lotion to the affected area and wash it off after eight
to 12 hours.
Ivermectin (Stromectol). This medication is taken
as a single dose of two pills, with an option to take
another dose in 10 days if the treatment isn't initially
successful.
Lindane. Because of its toxicity, lindane is usually
prescribed only when other treatments fail. You apply
lindane to the affected area and wash it off after four
minutes. It's not recommend for women who are
pregnant or breast-feeding, or for children younger
than age 2.
Eye treatments. If pubic lice are found in eyelashes,
you can treat them by applying petroleum jelly to
your eyelid and lashes three times a day for several
days. In addition, or as an alternative, the lice and
nits can be gently removed from eyelashes using
tweezers, a nit comb or your fingernails. Your doctor
may also prescribe a medicine to apply to the
eyelids.

PREVENTION

To prevent pubic lice infestation,
avoid having sexual contact or
sharing bedding or clothing with
anyone who has an infestation. If
you are being treated for pubic lice,
all sexual partners must also be
treated.














Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Anthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phthiraptera
Suborder: Anoplura (sucking lice)






































by:
Jovy J. Setiar
BS Laboratory Science III














Phthirus Pubis
(Pubic Lice)