Pediculosis, Man

Pediculosis is a superficial skin infection with head or body lice, Pediculus humanus capitis or P. h. corporis or crab lice, Phthirus pubis . The lice hold on to the body hairs with specialized claws and attach their eggs to the hair. Lice penetrate the epidermis with their mouthparts and suck blood, giving rise to mild dermatitis, often accentuated by scratching.

Therapy

Use of insecticides in wash lotions. Note that repeated washings are needed within 10 days since the drugs have a limited activity on the lice eggs/larvae. Recently obtained plant extracts (Licener®) solve the problem of pediculosis. Complete removal of the hair is recommended in heavy infestations. In body-louse infections all bed covers and clothes have to be cleaned (hot-washed, deep-frozen, etc.). The product enters the stigmata of the lice and blocks the transition of oxygen into the cells in there. Thus death occurs within 3–5 min.

Figures 1, 2, and 3: Diagrammatic representation of the breathing system of...