title: Phthiriasis palpebrarum misdiagnosed as allergic blepharoconjunctivitis in a 6-year-old girl.
abstract: Phthiriasis palpebrarum is an infestation of the eyelashes caused by the louse Pthirus pubis (Linnaeus, 1758). We report a case of phthiriasis palpebrarum in a 6-year-old girl, which was initially misdiagnosed as allergic blepharoconjunctivitis. Parasites and their nits were found adhering to the eyelashes and eyelids of her right eye as well as scalp hairs. No abnormality was found in the left eye. The histopathology exam revealed the presence of adults and eggs of Pthirus pubis. We mechanically removed all the eyelashes of the right eye at their base, with lice and nits. The scalp was shaved and washed with phenothrin shampoo. No recurrence was found during 3 months of follow-up. Removal of the eyelashes, cutting of scalp hairs, and phenothrin shampoo may be effective in treating phthiriasis palpebrarum. In cases of blepharoconjunctivitis, eyelids and eyelashes should be carefully examined by slit lamp to avoid misdiagnosis.
authors.forename: Jun Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China, .
authors.forename: Da Wei
authors.initials: da W
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005140:Eyelashes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D020061:Phthirus / Q000254:growth & development*