Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
What is the treatment for a head lice infestation (pediculosis)?
For effective elimination of head lice, the infested individual,
family members that are also infested, and the home must all be
treated.
Treatment of the individual and the infected family
members
Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications are used to
treat the affected people and their families. Follow these treatment
steps:
Remove all clothing.
Apply lice medicine, also called pediculicide,
according to the label instructions. If your child has extra long hair, you
may need to use a second bottle. WARNING: Do not use a cream rinse or
combination shampoo/conditioner before using lice medicine. Do not re-wash
hair for one to two days after treatment.
Have the infested person put on clean clothing after treatment.
If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after
treatment but are moving more slowly than before, do not retreat. Comb dead
and remaining live lice out of the hair. The medicine sometimes takes longer
to kill the lice.
Head lice are parasites that can be found on the heads of
people. Infection with head lice is called pediculosis.
(The head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, is different from the
lice that cause body and pubic-hair infections.)
How common is head lice infestation?
Head lice infection is very common. It has been estimated that up to one in every 10 children
in school acquires head lice at some time. In one study, the estimated annual cost of head lice infestations in the United States was nearly
$1 billion dollars.
Who is at risk for getting head lice?
Anyone who comes in close contact with someone who already has
head lice, or even their contaminated clothing and other belongings, is at
risk for acquiring head lice. Preschool and elementary-school
children (3-10 years of age) and their families are infected most often.
Girls contract head lice more often than boys and women contract more head lice than
men. African-Americans rarely acquire head lice.
How in the world does a child get head lice?
A child can contract head lice in a number of ways.
Contact with an already infested person. Personal contact is common during play, school, or sports activities, and at school, home, slumber parties, or camp
Wearing infested clothing, such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, or hair ribbons
Using infested combs, brushes, or towels
Lying on a bed, couch, pillow, carpet, or stuffed animal that has recently
been in contact with a person with lice
What do head lice look like?
There are three forms of lice, namely the nit, the nymph, and the adult
louse.
Nit: Nits are lice eggs. Nits are hard to see and are often
confused with dandruff or hair-spray droplets. Nits are found firmly
attached to the hair shaft. They are oval and usually yellow to
white. Nits take about a week to hatch.
Nymph: The nit hatches into a baby louse called a nymph. It
looks like an adult head louse but is smaller. Nymphs mature into
adults about seven days after hatching. To live, the nymph must feed on
blood.
Adult: The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed,
has six legs, and is tan to grayish-white in color. In people with
dark hair, the adult louse looks darker. Females lay nits; they are
usually larger than males. Adult lice can live up to 30 days on a
person's head. To live, adult lice need to feed on blood. If the
louse falls off a person, it dies within two days.
Itching can be a common problem. Itches can be localized or generalized. There are many causes of itching to include: infection (jock itch, vaginal itch), disease (hyperthyroidism, liver or kidney), reactions to drugs, and skin infestations (pubic or body lice). Treatment for itching varies depending on the cause of the itch.
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. Acne rosacea, Staphylococcal bacteria, allergies, sensitivities to makeup or contact lens solutions, head lice, or other conditions may cause blepharitis. Symptoms and signs include itchy eyelids, burning sensation in the eyes, crusting of the eyelids, light sensitivity, red, swollen eyelids, loss of eyelashes, and dandruff of the lashes and eyebrows. Proper eyelid hygiene and a regular cleaning routine controls blepharitis.
Children's health is focused on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. There are many aspects of children's health, including growth and development, illnesses, injuries, behavior, mental illness, family health and community health.
Blepharitis is the medical term for inflammation of the eyelids. The word
"blepharitis" is derived from the Greek word blepharos, which means "eyelid," and
the Greek suffix itis, which is typically used to denote an inflammation in
English. Inflammation is a general term used to describe the process by which
white blood cells and chemicals produced in the body protect us from foreign
substances, injury, or infection. The normal body response of inflammation
involves varying degrees of swelling, redness, pain, warmth, and change in
function. Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids, causing red, irritated,
itchy eyelids, and the formation of dandruff-like scales on the eyelashes. It is
a very common eye disorder with a wide variety of causes. It affects people of
all ages. Although it may be uncomfortable, annoying, or unattractive, blepharitis ...
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