pediculosis (ped-ik-u-lo's is)

Syn.: vagabond's disease, malis pediculi. Infestation wrth lice. Its varieties among human skin diseases are: p. capillitii, p. capitis, p. corp or is, p. pubis, p. vestiment i (or louse.] vest i men to rum). [Lat., pediculus, a pediculus (ped-ik'u-lus). 1. See pedicle. 2. A genus of insects of the cla Hexarpoda and the order Siphunculata (the lice) parasitic on man and other animals. Three varieties infest man: P. capitis, P. vestiment i and P. pubis. Some writers limit the term to P. capitis and P. vestimenii, while P. pubis is termed Phthirius (g. v.). P. capitis, P. cervical is. See P. human us. The head louse; a form of p. inhabiting the hairy scalp. It varies in length from 2/z to ij^ mm., and has an elongated, ovalish body with an acorn shaped head, provided with two antennae, prominent eyes, and a suctorial mouth. Attached to the thorax are six legs armed with claws and hairs. Its color is commonly grayish or ashy, but is said to vary according to the color of its host, in Eskimos appearing white, in negroes black, and in Chinese yellowish brown. The ova ("nits") are pyriform or oval in shape, and are firmly attached to the hairs. It may produce impetigo, by its bite. P. corp or is. The clothes or body louse; a variety closely resembling P. capitis, but considerably larger. Its habitat is the clothing, while it obtains its food in the same manner as P. capitis, upon the skin. The eggs are deposited in seams or folds of the clothing. Its bite produces much irritation and it is a carrier of typhus fever. P. human us. The proper name by priority for P. capitis. P. pubis. Syn.: morpio. A louse infesting the pubic hairs, being larger than the P. capitis. P. tabescentium. A form erroneously supposed to be a special variety of P. occurring in tabetic patients. P. vestiment i. See P. capitis. [Lat., pediculus, a louse.]