Case Series of Phthirus pubis Infestation in Non-Perineal Regions

Abstract

Pediculosis has been reported in all countries and socio-economic classes. Due to the small size and translucent nature of their nits, patients with Pthirus pubis may be misdiagnosed. Here, we report three cases of Pthirus pubis infection involving different body sites, including the eyelashes, axillary region and head, respectively. This case series have discussed their clinical features and corresponding responses. A large number of eggs and adult pubic lice were observed under dermoscopic observation, which can be considered an effective tool for diagnosing Pthirus pubis and reducing the misdiagnosis rate.

Keywords:

• Phthirus pubis
• eyelashes
• axillary region
• head
• dermoscopy

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

This study was designed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the ethics committee of Chengdu Second People’s Hospital.

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Consent for Publication

Informed consent was obtained from 6 years old patient’s guardians and others patient involved in the study.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the reviewers for their helpful comments on this paper.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.