Pediculosis palpebrarum initially diagnosed as blepharitis

Abstract

Pediculosis is an infestation of lice. Eyelid involvement is uncommon, but can be caused by pediculus humanus capitis (head louse), rarely by pediculus humanus corporis (body louse) and commonly by phthirus pubis (pubic louse). Signs and symptoms are similar to those of blepharitis. A diagnosis of any type of pediculosis requires the finding of live specimen of lice and/or a viable nit. The immediate and effective treatment of pediculosis palpebrarum is removal of the lice and nits manually with forceps and treating the patient withvaseline, twice daily for seven to ten days. Also, fomites such as pillow cases, bedsheets, towels and hats need to be washed in hot water and dried. This is to avoid further spread of lice or reinfestation.

Keywords

• lice
• infestation
• pediculosis
• madaro- sis.