Visit the following topic pages for more information: Head lice, body lice, and pubic lice
The clinical appearance of a chronic body lice infestation - the brown discolouration is due to scratching and blood that has been ingested by the lice. Masses of lice are visible on the underwear seams (PL-patient1)
Extensive body lice infestation - note the excoriations and hyperpigmentation. The dusty dots on the clothing seams are all adult lice (PL-patient1)
Pubic lice can migrate to the lashes where adults and eggs are visible (PL-patient2)
Pubic lice adjacent to the skin and adherent to the pubic hair
Scalp pyoderma due to pediculosis
Papular lesions on the scalp margin with cervical lymphadenopathy due to pediculosis capitis
Dermoscopic image of a female child with pediculosis showing the parasite, Pediculus humanus capitis
Dermoscopic image of female child with pediculosis showing dark brown viable nits attached to the shaft (yellow circles) and translucent hatched nits (red circles)
An adult louse on the eyelashes
Egg cases adherent to the pubic hair are more conspicuous than the adult lice - a dermatoscope can help readily visualise both
