Complications
Many have reported sleep disturbance due to pruritus in children with significant infestations.
Eradicating the infestation will eliminate the pruritus, although it may take several weeks in some individuals for the pruritus to dissipate.
Use of oral antihistamines at bedtime can alleviate this complication.
If the skin is disrupted by vigorous scratching, impetigo can occur.
The overall incidence of impetigo associated with head lice infestations has not been reported.
Look for erythematous areas with honey-coloured crust.
Cervical adenopathy may be present.
Treatment is with topical or oral antibiotics with Staphylococcus and Streptococcus coverage.
It would be possible to have an infection with MRSA associated with head lice infestation in a susceptible individual, but this has not been reported.
This complication may be avoided by keeping the infested person's fingernails short to prevent skin damage while scratching, and treating pruritus with oral antihistamines.
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