Pediatric emergency medicine trisk 1809 1809

to examine their skin when possible In contrast to adults, infants may develop blisters and exhibit lesions on the head and face The diagnosis is made by scraping involved skin and looking for mites under the 10× microscope objective ( Fig 88.5 ) Once an infestation occurs, it usually takes month for sensitization and pruritus to develop FIGURE 88.5 Scabies mite Louse Infestation Three forms of lice infest humans: (i) the head louse, (ii) the body louse, and (iii) the pubic or crab louse ( Fig 88.6 ) The major louse infestation in children involves the scalp and causes pruritus The female attaches her eggs to the hair shaft The egg then hatches, leaving behind numerous nits that resemble dandruff Secondary infection can occur from vigorous scratching Body lice generally reside in the seams of clothing and lay their eggs there They go to the body to feed, particularly the interscapular, shoulder, and waist areas Red pruritic puncta that become papular and wheal-like then occur Pubic lice occur in the genital area, lower abdomen, axillae, and eyelashes Transmission is usually venereal