What is the disease called that results from lice in humans? - briefly
The condition caused by human lice is known as pediculosis. It refers to an infestation of the body, head, or pubic regions by lice.
What is the disease called that results from lice in humans? - in detail
Pediculosis is the clinical term for infestation by human lice. Three species affect humans: head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis), body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis), and pubic lice (Pthirus pubis). Each species feeds on blood and reproduces on the host’s skin or clothing.
Symptoms arise from repeated bites and allergic reactions to saliva. Common manifestations include:
- Intense itching, especially behind the ears, neck, and waistline for head and body lice.
- Red papules or excoriations where lice attach.
- Visible nits (eggs) attached to hair shafts or fibers.
- Secondary bacterial infection from scratching, presenting as pustules or cellulitis.
Body lice serve as vectors for several serious infections:
- Epidemic (louse‑borne) typhus, caused by Rickettsia prowazekii, characterized by high fever, rash, and headache.
- Trench fever, caused by Bartonella quintana, producing recurrent fever, leg pain, and shin splinter hemorrhages.
- Relapsing fever, caused by Borrelia recurrentis, marked by alternating fever spikes and severe fatigue.
Diagnosis relies on microscopic examination of hair shafts, clothing fibers, or skin scrapings to detect live lice, nymphs, or nits. Laboratory testing of blood may identify the pathogens transmitted by body lice.
Treatment protocols include:
- Topical pediculicides (e.g., permethrin 1 % lotion) applied to scalp or body hair, repeated after 7–10 days to kill newly hatched lice.
- Manual removal of nits with fine combs, followed by thorough washing of bedding, clothing, and personal items at ≥60 °C.
- Oral ivermectin in resistant cases or for mass treatment in outbreak settings.
- Antibiotic therapy (doxycycline or chloramphenicol) for typhus, trench fever, or relapsing fever, guided by regional susceptibility patterns.
Prevention focuses on hygiene and environmental control: regular laundering of clothing and bedding, avoidance of sharing personal items, and prompt treatment of infestations to interrupt transmission cycles.