Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
My daughter is 10-year-old and has lice and nits that have now got severely scarred. The lice have infected her scalp causing big itchy patches that often bleed and result in a bad smell and extreme pain to her. Kindly help.
Hello,
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Lice infestations are common among children and adolescents due to contact with infected peers and fellow students, mostly from school. They lead to uncontrollable itching and pain and, depending on the severity of spread, may lead to bleeding and sometimes pus formations and scabs. Therefore, it is important to ensure that contact with infected individuals is reduced to prevent recurring symptoms later in life post-treatment. I would suggest Mupirocin cream (2.15 % w/w Mupirocin calcium) to be applied on areas of the scalp where there are wounds and in case of pus formations for faster and better healing. To be used twice daily in the morning and night in affected areas for three weeks. Permethrin 1 % scalp solution or lotion or shampoo to be used as a single application while bathing. Apply the contents of the bottle to your child's scalp. Massage for one minute and keep for 15 minutes before washing off. Once hair is dry, use a lice comb to comb out and remove any dead nits and lice present. Repeat application of the shampoo after two weeks to remove any leftover lice and nits and comb after drying as earlier. Permethrin shampoo should not be used in case of any wounds on the scalp. Let the wound heal with mupirocin cream, and then shampooing is better to avoid irritation. In case of recurrence, the same medication may be used in a similar pattern. In case of extreme infection, in-person consultation with a dermatologist is required for swab testing where the discharge on the affected area is tested for culture and sensitivity testing to know the antibiotic sensitivity according to which your doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics for your child. It requires dosages depending on your child's age and weight. Thank you.
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Answered byDr. Sandhya Narayanan Kutty
Medically reviewed byDr. K. Shobana
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