Pediculosis corporis (clothes louse infestation)(synonyms: Cutis vagantium; Maculae caeruleae; Pediculosis corporis; Pediculosis vestimenti; Pediculosis due to Pediculus humanus corporis; ICD-10 B85.1: Pediculosis due to Pediculus humanus corporis) refers to infestation of the skin with the clothes louse (Pediculus corporis). It belongs to the order of lice (Anoplura).
Clothes lice (Pediculus humanus humanus, also body louse, Pediculus humanus corporis) are elongated lice about three to four millimeters in size and are whitish to brownish in color.They are a subspecies of the human louse (Pediculus humanus) and accordingly belong to the lice or animal lice (Phthiraptera).The female can live up to 40 days. It lays about ten eggs per day. The development to the adult animal takes two weeks under optimal conditions.
Clothes lice are ectoparasites, parasites that live on the surface of the body.
Humans currently represent the only relevant pathogen reservoir.
Occurrence: The infection can occur worldwide. However, infestation with the clothes louse is now very rare in civilized areas. It can occur mainly among homeless people or in times of crisis.
The disease occurs throughout the year.
Transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) occurs through exchange of infested clothing or sharing of towels, etc.
Sex ratio: Men and women are equally affected.
Course and prognosis: In the case of a mild infestation of clothes lice, personal hygiene helps, i.e. changing clothes daily, washing clothes, towels, bed linen, etc. in the washing machine at at least 60° C. The nits, larvae and larvae are destroyed by this. This will reliably kill the nits, larvae and adult stages (“adult” animal). In case of very heavy infestation of clothes lice, the accommodation/flats must be professionally cleaned by a pest controller.Creams and ointments help against skin itching and heal affected skin areas. Clothes lice are of particular importance as vectors of various pathogens responsible for the development of rickettsial diseases – these include spotted fever (Rickettsia prowazeckii), five-day fever (Bartonella quintana) and epidemic lice relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis).
In Germany, the disease is notifiable under the Infection Protection Act (IfSG).
