The mother of an asymptomatic 3-year-old girl noticed "bugs" on her daughter's scalp. Figure A shows several head lice, Pediculus huma-nus capitis, at the lower posterior scalp. A louse was noted at the mid lower eyelid, just below the lashes (B); nits (ova) attached to the proximal upper eyelashes are seen (C).Pruritus, which was notably absent in this case, is the hallmark of pediculosis. Head-to-head contact and shared combs, brushes, and towels are the usual modes of transmission. Head lice infestation is less common among black persons.This child was treated with per-methrin cream rinse, which kills adult lice and nits. Other treatment shampoos are pyrethrin and 1% lin-dane; these agents must be reap-plied in 7 to 10 days to retreat the hatched larvae.
展开▼
