CASE REPORT article
Front. Med.
Sec. Ophthalmology
Pthiriasis Palpebrarum in a 7-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report
Provisionally accepted
Tingting Cui
Lina Meng*- Department of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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This case report presents a rare instance of pthiriasis palpebrarum in a 7-year-old female patient. The patient complained of bilateral eyelid pruritus and erythema lasting for 3 weeks. Slit-lamp examination revealed adult lice and nits adhering to the palpebral margins, and microscopic assessment confirmed the diagnosis of Pthirus pubis infestation. Following multiple attempts, all lice and nits were successfully eliminated. With the application of tobramycin eye ointment, the patient achieved full recovery. Pthiriasis palpebrarum is an uncommon condition, especially in pediatric populations, and is frequently misdiagnosed as blepharitis. This case underscores the importance of meticulous clinical examination to prevent misdiagnosis. Complete eradication of lice and nits is critical for the effective management of pthiriasis palpebrarum. For pediatric patients, selecting an appropriate louse removal method is essential to facilitate their cooperation during treatment. Furthermore, the patient's family should be provided with detailed guidance on proper hygiene practices to prevent reinfestation.
Keywords: Blepharitis, case report, pediatric ophthalmology, Pthiriasis palpebrarum, Pthirus pubis
Received: 05 Oct 2025; Accepted: 11 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Cui and Meng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Lina Meng
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