What is the medical name for lice? - briefly
The clinical term for a lice infestation is pediculosis, with the head‑lice species designated Pediculus humanus capitis.
What is the medical name for lice? - in detail
The clinical term for an infestation of lice is pediculosis. The word derives from the Latin pediculus (“little louse”) and is used in medical documentation to denote the presence of any species of the order Phthiraptera that feed on human blood.
Pediculosis is subdivided according to the anatomical site of infestation:
- Pediculosis capitis – head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis). Adult specimens measure 2–4 mm, are wingless, and cling to hair shafts with claws. The life cycle includes egg (nit), nymph, and adult stages over 7–10 days.
- Pediculosis corporis – body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus). These insects live in clothing seams, moving to the skin only to feed. Morphologically similar to head lice but larger (3–4 mm) and with a different pattern of egg attachment.
- Pediculosis pubis – pubic lice (Pthirus pubis). Often called “crabs,” they are broader, 1.5–2 mm, and attach to coarse hair in the genital region, perianal area, and occasionally facial hair.
All three forms are considered parasitic ectoparasitoses. Diagnosis relies on visual identification of live insects or viable nits attached within 1 cm of the hair shaft. Laboratory confirmation may involve microscopic examination of collected specimens.
Treatment protocols reference the medical name: topical pediculicides (e.g., permethrin 1 % lotion, ivermectin 0.5 % cream) applied according to the recommended schedule, followed by mechanical removal of nits with fine-tooth combs. For body lice, laundering of clothing at ≥ 60 °C and environmental decontamination are essential components. Resistance patterns and side‑effect profiles are documented under the umbrella term pediculosis in clinical guidelines.
Epidemiologically, pediculosis remains prevalent worldwide, with head lice infections most common in school‑age children, body lice linked to overcrowded or unhygienic living conditions, and pubic lice transmitted primarily through sexual contact. Public‑health reporting uses the term pediculosis to categorize cases, monitor outbreaks, and allocate resources for control measures.