A Case Report of Neonatal Pediculosis: A Simple Challenge, yet Complex

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Background: Neonatal pediculosis is a problem the magnitude of which has not been estimated; however, it is regarded as a diagnostic challenge and becomes one of the management challenges for which there are very few managementoptions in terms of age, gestation, and the potential effects of drug toxicity.
Case report: Here, we report a case of preterm who developed pediculosis capitis in the neonatal intensive care unit following contact with the mother during kangaroo mother care (KMC). She was successfully treated with a combination of topical extra virgin coconut and olive oil. Other radical treatments could not be administered due to cultural barriers.
Conclusion: Furthermore, maternal lice were treated with 1 % permethrin, and the KMC re-initiated. For a successful outcome, the education of the mother was equally important. The neonate was found to be free of lice on follow-up. Therefore, it is concluded that in neonatal pediculosis, topical oils are safe alternatives where drug toxicity is a constraint.

Keywords

References

1. Dagne H, Biya AA, Tirfie A, Yallew WW, Dagnew B. Prevalence of pediculosis capitis and associated factors among schoolchildren in Woreta town, northwest Ethiopia. BMC Res Notes. 2019; 12(1):465.
2. Yetman RJ. The child with pediculosis capitis. J Pediatr Health Care. 2015;29(1):118-20.
3. Nutanson I, Steen CJ, Schwartz RA, Janniger CK. Pediculus humanus capitis: an update. Acta Dermatovenerol Alp PannonicaAdriat. 2008;17(4): 147-54.
4. Verma P, Namdeo C. Treatment of pediculosis capitis. Indian J Dermatol. 2015;60(3):238-47.
5. Bohl B, Evetts J, McClain K, Rosenauer A, Stellitano E. Clinical practice update: pediculosis capitis. PediatrNurs. 2015;41(5):227-34.
6. Mumcuoglu KY, Miller J, Zamir C, Zentner G, Helbin V, Ingber A. The in vivo pediculocidal efficacy of a natural remedy. Isr Med Assoc J. 2002;4(10):790-3
7. Albakri L, Goldman RD. Permethrin for scabies in children. Can Fam Physician. 2010;56(10):1005-6.
8. Integrative PD. Aromatherapy with essential oils (PDQ®). PDQ cancer information summaries. Maryland: National Cancer Institute (US); 2005.
9. Villegas SC, Breitzka RL. Head lice and the use of spinosad. Clin Ther. 2012;34(1):14-23.
10. Madke B, Khopkar U. Pediculosis capitis: an update. Indian J Dermatol VenereolLeprol. 2012; 78(4):429-38.
Iranian Journal of Neonatology
Volume 11, Issue 3
August 2020
Pages 123-125

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics