Al Ghadeer Hussain A, Busaleh Fadi, Albahrani Hassan M, Albisher Alla M, AlHassan Abdulaziz, AlAmer Hassan M, Alibrahim Hassan M, Alherz Ahmed H, Al Muaibid Abdullah F, Aljubran Tawfiq M
Pediatrics, Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Ahsa, SAU.
Cureus. 2022 Feb 20;14(2):e22403. doi: 10.7759/cureus.22403. eCollection 2022 Feb.
Pediculosis capitis is obligate ectoparasite that lives and feeds on host blood, affecting commonly children. Lice are transmitted easily and respond to topical treatment with good personal hygiene. Chronic infestation can lead to different complications such as bacterial infection dermatitis and anaemia. Haematological complications are not reported frequently. We report a case series of five patients presented with a clear manifestation of anaemia with heavy lice infestation. Laboratory evaluation revealed microcytic hypochromic anaemia (red blood cell indices) with low serum iron levels and other causes that were excluded. All patients who were admitted received blood transfusions. There was not a possible explanation for this severe anaemia other than head lice.
头虱病是一种专性体外寄生虫，以宿主血液为食并在其上生存，常见于儿童。虱子传播容易，通过良好的个人卫生习惯并配合局部治疗即可治愈。长期感染可导致不同并发症，如细菌感染性皮炎和贫血。血液学并发症报道较少。我们报告了一组5例病例，这些患者因头虱大量寄生而出现明显的贫血表现。实验室检查显示为小细胞低色素性贫血（红细胞指数），血清铁水平低，且排除了其他病因。所有入院患者均接受了输血治疗。除头虱外，没有其他可能导致这种严重贫血的原因。
