Phthiriasis palpebrarum masquerading as blepharitis.

Pthiriasis palpebrarum, a rare condition caused by Phthirus pubis, can mimic blepharitis and manifest as intense itching, inflammation and eyelid redness. We describe a case of Pthiriasis palpebrarum in a young girl with right upper eyelid discomfort. A slit lamp examination revealed eggs on her eyelashes and adult lice on the eyelids' surface. Dermatology consultation confirmed the diagnosis and successful treatment followed. Family evaluation uncovered genital Phthiriasis pubis in her parents, who received appropriate treatment. This report emphasises the importance of accurate diagnosis and management of this masquerading condition by careful slit lamp and microscopic evaluation. It also highlights the significance of comprehensive family history and examination.

Dermatologic Care for Refugees: Effective Management of Scabies and Pediculosis.

There is a large burden of treatable dermatologic conditions in refugee populations. Parasitic infestations are particularly common when there are barriers to basic hygiene, crowded living or travel conditions, and lack of access to health care. Body lice are associated with anemia and can transmit a variety of diseases; chronic impetigo secondary to scabies is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease globally. Dermatologists have unique skills to identify skin infections, inflammatory diseases, and infestations. Appropriate dermatologic care has the potential to improve overall outcomes.

Phthirus Pubis Crawling Along the Palpebral Margin.

A 7-year-old boy was misdiagnosed as having contact dermatitis due to itching and redness of the eyelids. Later, with the assistance of a slit lamp, active pubic lice on the eyelid margin were discovered. Microorganisms and insect eggs were mechanically removed, and itching and redness symptoms complete disappeared after 1 week. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(2)e13-e15.].

Misleading Presentation of Unilateral Phthiriasis Palpebrarum in a 2-Year-Old Boy.

A 2-year-old boy with recently treated head lice presented with worsening right eyelid pruritus, irritation, and bleeding that was presumed to be a reinfection of head lice. Clinical examination revealed ectoparasites along the superior eyelid margin that were later identified as Phthirus pubis, or pubic lice. Treatment and management strategies are discussed. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2023;60(5):e55-e58.].

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Pediatric Phthirus pubis Coinfestation of the Eyelashes and Scalp Hairs.

Phthirus pubis infestation is a highly infectious parasitic disease, affecting 1.3-4.6% of people globally. However, the coinfestation of P. pubis on the eyelashes and scalp hairs in children is uncommon, and the clinical characteristics and prognosis have not been fully studied. In this retrospective study, we report five pediatric patients diagnosed with eyelash and scalp coinfestation of P. pubis. The samples were obtained after treatment and sent for pathological examination. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants were analyzed in detail. Numerous lice and nits were detectable on the eyelashes and scalp hairs in all enrolled patients. The ages ranged from 2 to 5 years. The duration of onset ranged from 3 to 10 days. The common clinical presentations were itching (100%) and conjunctivitis (60%). Treatment included eyelash and scalp hair trimming to the root (100%) and mechanical removal of the parasites (100%), in addition to topical tobramycin eye ointment (100%) and phenothrin shampoo (80%). Symptoms resolved by a 1-week follow-up. Pediatric P. pubis coinfestation mainly occurs on the eyelashes and temporal scalp in females, and sometimes contact tracing fails to identify the source. Phthirus pubis infestation of eyelashes can be misdiagnosed as blepharoconjunctivitis. Sexually transmitted diseases should be ruled out for patients with P. pubis infestation. Untreated or persistent cases may lead to several serious infections.

Prevalence of Pediculus humanus capitis and associated risk factors among elementary school-aged girls in Paveh, West Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Head lice infestation is considered as a common dermatological health problem worldwide. This study was aimed to determine the pediculosis prevalence and associated risk factors among school-aged girls enrolled in public elementary schools of the city of Pave, Kermanshah province, West Iran. The study findings will provide an evidence base, upon which a multifaceted intervention against pediculosis can be formulated and implemented. METHODOLOGY: In this cross-sectional study, 361 elementary school-aged girls were recruited from October to December 2018 at the beginning of the school year. Diagnosis was made by visual inspection. A structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data about past history of infestation and associated factors. RESULTS: A total of 26/361 (7.2%; 95% CI: 4.50-9.90) suffered from pediculosis. Pediculosis was associated with the history of previous infestation (OR: 6.12; 95% CI: 2.68-13.99; p < 0.001), low frequency of bathing (OR: 7.90; 95% CI: 3.36-18.60; p < 0.001), low frequency of hair combing (OR: 3.64; 95% CI: 1.56-8.50; p = 0.004), screening of the student's hair by parents at home (OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.19-0.78; p < 0.001) and with the absence of screening by the school health officer in the schools (OR: 7.16; 95% CI: 2.91-17.61; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Synchronized efforts to enhance public knowledge, periodic examination of school-aged children for pediculosis, and proper treatment of infested patients are needed to control the disease in the Iranian elementary schools. The applied strategies in low and middle income countries is suggested to be focused mainly on low cost family-based and school-based initiatives for maximum effectiveness.