PEDICULOSIS TREATMENT

PEDICULOSIS TREATMENT

Pediculosis is defined as the state of being infected with lice. Pediculi or lice is a small blood sucking parasite.

It is associated with poor personal hygiene. It can be acquired in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions and exposure to infected persons

Purpose

Dangers of Pediculosis

Prevention of Pediculosis

Proper personal hygiene should be maintained by every person
Daily hair combing and frequently washing it
If the patient complains of itching or scratches the head, examine hair and scalp thoroughly

Medications Used for Pediculosis Treatment

DDT powder one part to nine part of talcum powder
Kerosene mixed with equal parts of sweet oil destroys both lice and nits
Carbolic acid 1:40
Readily available lysil
Preparations containing gamma, benzene hexachloride available in the market and can be used according to the instruction on the label

Types of Pediculi

Pediculosis capitis: which infest the head
Pediculosis corporis: which infest the body and is found with its flits in the clothing
Pediculosis pubis: this infests the axillary and pubic hair, the eyebrows and sometimes the eyelashes

General instructions

The parasiticides are applied thoroughly on the scalp (to the body if necessary) and is left for overnight
On the next day a thorough bath is given and the linen is changed
The linen should be thoroughly disinfected to remove the lice from the cloths
Since, the parasiticides are not effective against the nits (eggs) the procedure is repeated after a week

Preliminary Assessment

Check

Equipment

A tray containing

Preparation of the Patient and the Unit

Explain the sequence of procedure
Provide privacy by means of screens
Arrange the articles conveniently on the bedside
Place the patient flat if the condition permits
Bring the patients head and shoulder to the edge of the bed
Protect the pillow and bed with a mackintosh and a towel
Protect the patient’s eyes with a clean damp wash cloth
Pull off the fan to prevent the parasiticide spilling over the face during its application
Loosen the hair and comb out the tangles

Procedure

Wash hands thoroughly
Put on gown, mask and cap
Part the hair into small sections and apply the parasiticide on the hair and scalp, rubbing gently
In long hairs, the medicine is to be applied along the whole length of the hair
Roll up the long hair to the top of the head and cover the head with cap or triangular bandage or by a towel folded diagonally secure it with pins

Note: the treatment is done in the evening and left over night

After Care

Remove the Mackintosh and towels from under the patients head
Tidy up the bed; place the patient in a comfortable position
Remove the gown, mask and cap and put them into the antiseptic lotion
Replace the articles in their proper place after clean and disinfect
Record and report the procedure in the nurses record sheet
The hair is washed in the following morning
Comb the hair with a fine toothed comb
Repeat the procedure after one week because the nits are not affected by the parasiticides
Disinfect all the articles that have come in contact with the hair by immersing them in carbolic acid 1:20 for one hour before washing