Images in Clinical Medicine
Dermoscopy of Phthiriasis
N Engl J Med 2010; 362:e33March 11, 2010
- Article
A 50-year-old man presented with a 1-month history of mild, generalized pruritus. A total-body examination of the patient's skin revealed small, yellowish-brown flecks in the hair of the upper arm (Panel A), chest, and axilla on the left side and in the pubic area. Dermoscopy showed pubic lice (Phthirus pubis), colloquially termed “crabs” (Panel B). The pubic louse is classically a sexually transmitted pediculus and is aptly named, since it is most commonly found in pubic hair. In heavy infestations, the trunk, limbs, and eyelashes can be colonized. Dermoscopy revealed the typical broad body of the crab and the large middle and hind legs, which have thick claws for grasping hairs (Panel C). The patient was treated with two total-body applications of topical permethrin 5% cream, which were applied 1 week apart. Household members were also treated. Complete resolution was achieved without recurrence.
Jennifer LeeAnn DeFazio, M.D.
Philip Spencer, M.D.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Hauppauge, NY
defazioj@mskcc.org - Citing Articles (1)
Citing Articles
1
Martin Johannes Koehler, Marco Speicher, Susanne Lange-Asschenfeldt, Eggert Stockfleth, Susanne Metz, Peter Elsner, Martin Kaatz, Karsten König. (2011) Clinical application of multiphoton tomography in combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy for in vivo evaluation of skin diseases. Experimental Dermatology 20:7, 589-594
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