Pediculosis

Pediculosis is a contagious parasitic disease caused by lice, small wingless insects that feed on human blood. It most often affects the scalp in children, but can also be seen on the body or in the intimate area in adults. Pediculosis is not associated with poor hygiene and can affect anyone through close contact with an infected person or objects.

Types of pediculosis
**1. Head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis):**
- Most common form – especially among school-age and preschool children
- Settles in the hair, most often behind the ears and on the back of the head
- Female lice stick their eggs (nits) to the hair near the scalp

**2. Body louse (Pediculus vestimenti):**
- Lives in the folds of clothing and passes onto the skin to feed
- Occurs in people with poor living conditions, without access to regular changes of clothes

**3. Pubic louse (Pthirus pubis):**
- Infects the genital area, but can spread to the armpits, chest, beard
- It is transmitted mainly sexually

How is it transmitted?
- Direct contact with the hair, body or intimate area of an infected person
- Sharing combs, hats, pillows, towels
- Through clothing or bedding (body louse)
- Sexual contact (pubic lice)

Symptoms
- Severe itching, especially in the scalp, neck, or groin area
- Redness and irritation of the skin from bites
- Visible nits (white eggs) on the hair, close to the skin
- Scratches, crusts, sometimes secondary bacterial infection

Diagnosis
- It is clinically diagnosed by examination of the scalp or body
- Presence of live lice or nits in the hair or clothing
- If necessary – dermatoscopy or microscopic examination

Treatment
**1. For head and pubic lice:**
- Topical antiparasitic agents: permethrin, malathion, dimethicone
- Apply to scalp and hair, wait as directed and rinse.
- Repeat the procedure after 7–10 days – to destroy newly hatched lice
- Combing with a thick comb to remove nits
Gas, oil and vinegar in equal parts, applied to the head and left to stand under a towel for 10-12 hours.

**2. For body lice:**
- Basic – changing and washing clothes and bed linen at ≥60°C
- Treating the skin with permethrin cream or powder as needed

Important for parents
- Pediculosis is not related to poor hygiene
- The discovery of lice should not lead to stigmatization of the child
- With proper treatment, complete recovery is achieved within days
Pediculosis is a common but treatable condition. Timely recognition, adequate treatment, and strict hygiene measures prevent complications and spread within the family or community.