Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia and Lice Infestation

Severe iron deficiency anaemia associated with heavy lice infestation in a young woman

“…Since 1953, this association has been reported in cattle2 and children 3 4. Additionally, Guss et al 5 recently published a case series of five patients who presented with signs and symptoms of anaemia, who were found to have heavy infestations of head and/or body lice. The lowest haemoglobin reported was 3.2 g/L (range, 5.7–3.2 g/L).…”

“…Notably, all of the patients in the case series by Guss et al 5 were homeless, with limited access to hygiene, which led to the chronic and heavy lice infestation. Our patient was also affected by diminished personal hygiene partly because of her psychiatric illness (depression) without cognitive therapy.…”

“…Although there is no established causal relationship between iron deficiency anaemia and lice infestation, these two conditions have been reported in in cattle,2 children3 4 and adults,5 We present a case of a young woman with severe iron deficiency anaemia associated with a heavy lice infestation.…”

A ghost covered in lice: a case of severe blood loss with long-standing heavy pediculosis capitis infestation

“…They estimated that with heavy infestation, blood loss of 0.7 mL/day or 20.8 mL/month could potentially occur and concluded that heavy infections with head lice could contribute to iron-deficiency anaemia. One American study in an adult emergency department looked retrospectively at admissions involving lice infestation and severe anaemia (<6 g/dL) over 4 years 3. The resulting six patients were all homeless, had documented or reported lice infection and no symptoms of gastrointestinal or other blood loss.…”

Pediculosis causing iron deficiency anaemia in school children

“…Lice causing anaemia has been documented in cattle4 and, only recently, a case series in California showed a possible link between heavy infestation and anaemia in humans 5…”