Lice, crabs, scabies: true/false about
Treatments Scabies and lice
Lice, crabs and scabies are skin parasites. Despite some similarities, their lifestyles on the human body are not the same, and the treatments differ. Elodie and Alain have many questions about these external parasites, our pharmacist answers them!
Can we take the scabies treatment to get rid of lice so that it is more radical?
Flase
Local treatment solutions should be preferred to get rid of lice. Knowing about lice and scabies allows you to treat them in the best possible way.
Treatment for scabies is used against lice only as a last resort. If the various recommended local treatments have failed, and if the pediculosis is severe, your doctor may opt for an oral treatment: ivermectin. This molecule is toxic to the nervous system of lice. It is the same medication used to treat scabies . However, this type of prescription is rare.
Our pharmacist answers all the questions asked by Elodie, a young mother who spotted lice on her daughter's head.
Know the lice
Elodie : Are there different types of lice?
Pharmacist: Yes, head lice and body lice are two different species but they are from the same family. They are both said to be hematophagous, that is, they feed on the blood of their host. The presence of these external parasites on an individual is called pediculosis. They both cause itching, and it is the place where these external parasites live and reproduce that differs on humans.
Elodie : In this case, does my daughter have head lice?
The pharmacist : Absolutely Elodie, it is also very common among children. Head lice ( Pediculus humanus capitis ) feed from the scalp and attach themselves to the hair with powerful pincers. Your daughter must have caught the parasite through direct contact with the hair of an infested schoolmate, or via a hat.
Elodie : Is it possible that my daughter will also get body lice?
The pharmacist : Although it is possible, body lice is much less common and more likely to affect people living in precarious conditions. Body lice ( Pediculus humanus corporis ) bite into the skin and stay on body hair and textile fibers of clothing. They do not live in the same place as head lice and show a preference for the skin of the back, shoulders, groin and thighs.
Know the scabies mite
Elodie : After seeing my daughter scratching herself, a friend told me she had scabies. What exactly is it?
The pharmacist: The scabies mite ( Sarcoptes scabiei ) is a mite that feeds on the cells of our epidermis. The female digs galleries, called furrows, in the skin of the host in order to lay her eggs.
Elodie : Is the scalp most often affected as in the case of head lice?
The pharmacist : Not at all, it is the front of the wrists and the spaces between the fingers that are particularly affected by the parasite. However, the buttocks, armpits, navel, elbows, male genitals and female areolas are frequently parasitized areas. Scabies is therefore considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and it is responsible for particularly severe itching in the evening and at night.
Elodie : How do you get scabies?
The pharmacist : Scabies, also called scabiosis, is transmitted through close and prolonged contact. Some forms of scabies are highly contagious and affect entire communities such as retirement homes or certain medical services.
Should we use anti-lice lotions first?
Elodie : Which effective treatment against lice should you choose?
The pharmacist : The treatment for your daughter's lice will be local. It is better to use lotions, which are more effective than shampoos: they are more concentrated in active ingredients, and their application time on the hair is longer.
There are two types of treating agents:
- Malathion and pyrethrins are pediculicides that act on the nervous system of lice. Unfortunately, lice develop resistance to these molecules in response to their massive use.
A second application 10 days later is essential
- Asphyxiating oils, based on silicone derivatives or coconut oil, asphyxiate lice and nits by preventing them from breathing. These lotions make it possible to avoid resistance a priori and improve tolerance.
While some products can eliminate lice and nits in a single application, it is best to repeat the treatment 10 days later. Application times can vary from 15 minutes to 8 hours depending on the product.
After applying and rinsing these lotions with a mild shampoo, a lice comb with tight teeth can be used to get rid of the lice and nits that have been killed.
Lice and crabs: are they treated in the same way with the same products?
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Lice and crabs are cousins that have many similarities. Their treatments use different molecules.
Our pharmacist answers questions from Alain, who thinks he has crabs.
Crab lice, cousins of lice
Alain : I have itching in my genitals. What are crabs?
The pharmacist : Crab lice, or pubic lice ( Phtirius inguinalis ), feed on the blood of their host and attach themselves to pubic hair and around the anus. Like body and head lice, they cause itching. Crab lice can also be found on the body or even on the eyelashes.
Alain : I always wear a condom during intercourse, can crabs still infect me?
The pharmacist : Phthiriasis, or crab infestation, is a sexually transmitted infection that cannot be prevented by wearing a condom.
Similar parasites, different treatments
Alain : Should I consult a doctor to treat crab lice?
The pharmacist : I recommend it to you, Alain. The doctor will be able to confirm or not the phthiriasis, and prescribe an appropriate treatment. Against crab lice, lotions containing pyrethrins or malathion can be used by the practitioner. They are to be applied to the pubic area and the perianal region. If the body is affected, the torso, armpits, thighs and scalp should be treated. On the other hand, asphyxiating lotions are not part of the official recommendations for the treatment of crab lice.
As a second option, if these local treatments fail, the doctor may prescribe an oral treatment based on ivermectin as in the case of scabies .
Lice, crabs, scabies: are the people most affected the dirtiest?
FALSE: This is a popular misconception that has a long life: we often hear that people with pediculosis, phthiriasis or scabies have questionable hygiene. However, this is not the case, and only body lice develop preferentially in the most vulnerable individuals.
Itching and skin lesions convey this completely erroneous image. However, all these parasites are contagious and tenacious: careful and daily personal hygiene is not enough to get rid of them.
Alain : My treatment just ended yesterday, and I'm still scratching: should I start again?
The pharmacist : Itching may persist after treatment for lice, crabs and scabies . This does not mean that the treatment has failed, or that external parasites have returned. To calm this itching, your doctor may possibly prescribe certain medications.
Alain : I scratched myself so much that I have a plaque that is oozing, what should I do?
The pharmacist : Skin lesions can appear and become purulent from scratching. This is a common phenomenon and does not mean that your hygiene is questionable. However, a medical consultation is necessary since the infection must be fought.
Alain : Do lice, scabies and crabs jump from one person to another?
Pharmacist : No, none of these parasites can jump. They are most often caught through direct contact with an infested person. Transmission can also occur through infested linens such as bedding, clothing, or even towels.