Abstract
Head lice are transmitted by head to head contact. Optimal therapy includes malathion lotion 0.5% repeated in one week left on for 30minutes to 8hours. Spinosad topical suspension 0.9% repeated in one week left on for 10minutes is another option. Scabies is transmitted mainly by direct contact but also via heavily infested fomites due to crusted scabies. Permethrin 5% cream to the body repeated in four days is often sufficient; however, scalp treatment with malathion lotion 0.5% is helpful in crusted scabies and in infested children. Oral ivermectin 200mcg/kg is another option, repeated in four days. For scabies more than lice, fomites should be placed in a drier at 60°C for 10minutes to kill the arthropods. Treatment of close contacts in both cases will control outbreaks and repeated infestations. Both have been associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. Bed bugs are a common cause for papular urticaria. Identification of the insect in the mattress or bedding confirms the diagnosis. Prevention involves encasing the mattress in a sealed plastic cover and extermination. Delusions of parasitosis is a diagnosis of exclusion that is best treated with an antipsychotic.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 131-141 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | International Journal of Dermatology |
Volume | 51 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2012 |