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PEDICULOSIS HEAD LICE

PEDICULOSIS HEAD LICE. Margaret Jahn, MS, MPH Freehold Health Dept. GOALS. Learn about head lice WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE & HOW Biology Treatment Diagnosis Prevention & control. HEAD LICE. Infestation of Pediculus capitis Parasitic insect Hair, eyebrows & eyelashes

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PEDICULOSIS HEAD LICE

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  1. PEDICULOSISHEAD LICE Margaret Jahn, MS, MPH Freehold Health Dept.

  2. GOALS • Learn about head lice • WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE & HOW • Biology • Treatment • Diagnosis • Prevention & control

  3. HEAD LICE • Infestation of Pediculuscapitis • Parasitic insect • Hair, eyebrows & eyelashes • Excessive itching & scratching • Universal susceptibility • Unrelated to hygiene

  4. HEAD LICE • VERY common • Affects children 3-11yrs • Est. 6-12 million infestations annually • Spread from head-to-head contact • Feed on blood from scalp • DO NOT SPREAD DISEASE! • Nuisance!

  5. BIOLOGY 101 • Life cycle – 3 stages • Egg, nymph and adult

  6. EGGS • Called “Nits” • Laid by adult female • Cemented to base of hair (6 mm from scalp) • Hard to see • Resemble dandruff • ~ 1 week to hatch

  7. EGGS

  8. NYMPHS • Hatch from eggs • Look like adult louse • Mature after 3 molts • ~ 1 week

  9. ADULTS • Size of sesame seed • 6 legs with claws • Females larger • Lay up to 8 nits per day • 30 day life span • 2-3 meals of blood/day • Die 1-2 days off scalp

  10. ADULTS

  11. RISK FACTORS • Not related to cleanliness!! • Common transmission head-to-head • Home • School • Elsewhere (camp, sports, playground etc.)

  12. RISK FACTORS • Uncommon transmission • Sharing clothing, hair ribbons • Using infested combs, brushes, towels • Lying on a bed, couch etc. recently in contact with infested person

  13. DIAGNOSIS • Misdiagnosis – VERY common • Look for live insects • Nits not always reliable • Easily confused with dandruff, hair spray etc. • Nits >1/4 inch from scalp – old

  14. TREATMENT • ONLY FOR ACTIVE INFESTATION! • Check household members & contacts • Treat all at same time • Supplemental measures

  15. TREATMENT • Over-the-counter medication • FDA approved • Pyrethrins or permethrins • READ LABEL • Do not re-wash hair for 1-2 days • Check 8-12 hrs after tx • Slower moving, comb dead • No dead – call healthcare provider

  16. SUPPLEMENTAL • Bedding, towels & clothing • With in 2 day period • Launder in hot water & dry • Place in plastic bag for 2 weeks • Vacuum furniture and floors of infested hair

  17. CDC RECOMENDATIONS • Students remain in school if Dx during day • Children return to school after treatment • Nits still present? • O.K. as long as no crawling/ live insects • Burdensome absenteeism • Nits not easily transferred • Misdiagnosis common if not by health provider

  18. Freehold Township School Policy

  19. REMEMBER!WE ARE HERE TO HELP Freehold Health Department 732-294-2060

  20. QUESTIONS

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