Readers may be aware of the well-known American episode depicted by that wonderful, great writer “O Henry”, in this masterpiece “The Gift of Magic”. You can imagine the shock that that poor husband suffered when he bought the two beautiful combs for his wife and discovered to his horror that she sold away her long; luxurious, rich, and alluring tresses to buy a pocket watch for her husband.
Yes, combs are necessary for both men and women perhaps more for the fair sex. But one must be careful while using the combs otherwise they are notorious in transmitting various diseases of the scalp such as pediculosis capitis. This Pediculosis capitis, also known as head lice, is a common condition that occurs when the head and scalp are infested with head lice (lice infestation of the head), fungal infections, tinea capits (ringworm of the head) favus, is a chronic, inflammatory skin infection caused by a fungus that usually affects the scalp with the formation of prominent honeycomb-like masses, where scalp has a ‘mousy odour’, and ‘dandruff’ (loose dry scales of the scalp), etc., to some extent.
To elaborate pediculosis is an infestation caused by lice. Here normally three kinds of louse infest the human body. Head louse, body louse, and pubic louse. Amongst these head lice are most common especially in women because of their, long hair. Head lice, though more prevalent in the socially and economically backward classes, are not uncommon in the middle, and upper classes.
The irritation and itching of the scalp by the bites of lice when neglected can lead to secondary infection resulting in impetigo-a contagious disease where pustular lesions and blisters, with thick, yellow, translucent pus appear. Once secondary infection sets in there may be painful swelling of the cervical lymph nodes commonly called glands of the neck. In addition, impetigo may extend on to the face and the pus infection may also be transferred to the eyes by the fingers.
The lice are six-legged, wingless, dirty greyish coloured insects that live on the scalp and lay eggs called ‘nits’ which stick to the hairs. The eggs can be transferred from one person to another person through combs thus spreading the infestation to others. The lice can also directly transfer by close contact as between members of the same family or between playmates and also among the people who sleep side by side. These lice live in Created by fCoder Graphics Processor the blood of the patient.
In severe lice infestation, they can infect any part of the human body including eyelashes and public regions. Poor sanitary conditions and overcrowding intensify the spread of lice. During war times lice transmit serious conditions such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.
Treatment: The patient should be advised to use a medicated shampoo, lotion, or cream as directed on the package. One can try products that contain permethrin or pyrethrin, which are chemicals that kill lice, and ivermectin, which is toxic to lice and can be used on children as young as 6 months. One per cent lindane lotion, gamma benzonehexa chloride on to the scalp hairs, also kills all lice though it does not kill the eggs. The scalp is to be thoroughly washed with shampoo or Soap-nut powder 24 hours later, after the ‘nits’ must be removed by careful combing, in severe cases all members of the family should be treated.
Coming to the fungal infections of the head, tineacapitis (ringworm of the head), where the infection involves the scalp is more in children but no bar for adults. It manifests in the form of localized areas of hair loss, which may be permanent in severe cases, associated with excessive itching, reddening and scaling. In some cases, there may be localized, painful, boggy swelling. In either of these conditions, the hairs in the patch are dry, lusterless, brittle broken and may be ‘block’ dots at varying lengths from the surface of the skin. As the affected parts of this fungal infection look like circles or pale rings, the name ‘ringworm’ is given.
Microcrystalline griseofulVin 0.25-0.5 gm by mouth daily or twice daily for 2 weeks, using selenium sulfide as an adjuvant, available as a shampoo, will cure most cases. Local application of clotrimazole lotion is also effective. In addition to the hygienic habits of living with an adequate diet and application of ointment of lotions containing, salicylic acid, tar or selenium help treat ‘dandruff’ which usually thrives on the scalp with lice infestation most of the time.
Prevention: Unfortunately, it is a routine practice in the boys of schools, colleges, hostels and also in military camps, and police barracks, one or two combs are shared by them for hairdressing, which is a bad habit as it transmits the said disease effectively. It must be restricted. Saloon goers are warned, as saloons play a major role in transmitting scalp infections, where undoubtedly one or two combs are only used for all to assist hair cutting. It is advised to go to the saloons with one’s own set of combs, scissors, blades, shaving cream after shaving lotion and related items.
Strictly speaking, the comb of one individual should not be sued by the other. I personally discourage the use of comb of other members even in the same family. In case it is not possible; to clean the combs after every use at least periodically cleaning is recommended to curb the infection.
