Head Louse Caught in the Act

Excerpt

A six-year-old girl presented with a non-pruritic “dandruff” noticed by her mother. Examination revealed the presence of about 30 whitish structures firmly attached to the hair shafts in parietal, occipital and temporal scalp. Trichoscopy (Dermlite DL4, 3GEN, USA) with 10-fold working magnification revealed yellowish oval structures attached to the hair shaft (Fig. 1), as well as an adult head louse (Fig. 2). Pediculosis capitis caused by Pediculus humanus capitis was diagnosed. Shampoo with 5% permethrin, repeated after 7 d as well as a thorough combing of the hairs twice daily for 14 d was recommended with good clinical and trichoscopic response.

…