A patient with a severe lice infestation may develop an iron-deficiency anemia.
This is uncommon and usually requires a chronic, severe infestation with lice. This can be seen in the homeless (especially those with mental illness), during times of war or with extreme poverty.
Mechanism: chronic blood loss from louse feedings
Diagnostic features:
(1) presence of iron-deficiency anemia
(2) presence of severe, chronic lice infestation with many louse-feeding sites
(3) exclusion of other causes of iron deficiency
(4) reversal of anemia after lice controlled and iron replaced
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
