Definition

1. Noun:
   • Infestation with lice: A medical condition characterized by the presence of lice (specifically Pediculus humanus) on the body or scalp, typically causing severe itching and skin irritation.

Usage

• General Use: The term is used in medical and formal contexts to describe the condition of being infested with lice.
• Context: It is most commonly encountered in healthcare, public health, and entomology discussions.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The school nurse checked the children for signs of pediculosis.
  • Pediculosis is a common problem in overcrowded living conditions.
  • Treatment for pediculosis usually involves medicated shampoos or lotions.

Advanced Usage

• "Pediculosis capitis": Infestation with head lice.
  • Pediculosis capitis spreads easily among school-aged children.
• "Pediculosis corporis": Infestation with body lice.
  • Pediculosis corporis is often associated with poor hygiene and lack of access to clean clothing.

Variants and Related Words

• Pedicular (adj): Relating to or infested with lice.
  • The pedicular infestation required immediate treatment.
• Lousiness (n): Informal term for the state of being infested with lice; synonymous with pediculosis but less clinical.

Synonyms

• Lice infestation: The condition of having lice.
• Phthiriasis: A technical term, sometimes used interchangeably, though it can specifically refer to infestation with crab lice ().

Related Phrases

• "Outbreak of pediculosis": A sudden occurrence of multiple cases of lice infestation in a community.
  • The summer camp experienced an outbreak of pediculosis.
• "Diagnosis of pediculosis": The formal identification of the lice infestation condition.
  • The diagnosis of pediculosis was confirmed by finding nits (lice eggs) on the hair shafts.

Notes

• The term is derived from Latin (louse) + (denoting a pathological condition).
• While "pediculosis" refers to the medical condition, the lice themselves are the causative parasites.

Noun

1. infestation with lice (Pediculus humanus) resulting in severe itching