Phthiriasis palpebrarum effectively treated with tea tree oil

Samuel Asanad; Bhakti Panchal; Wuqaas M Munir

Phthiriasis palpebrarum effectively treated with tea tree oil

Am J Clin Exp Immunol. 2023 Jun 15;12(3):45-48. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Samuel Asanad¹, Bhakti Panchal¹, Wuqaas M Munir¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

PMID: 37457504
PMCID: PMC10349304

Abstract

Phthiriasis palpebrarum, also known as crab lice, is a rare eyelash infestation by Pthirus pubis that is often misdiagnosed as common blepharitis, and thus mistreated. Treatment of Phthiriasis palpebrarum is widely variable. Tea tree oil is an essential oil with broad-spectrum anti-microbial therapeutic effects. Notably, however, the role of this agent in Phthiriasis palpebrarum management is unclear. The current article reports a case of phthiriasis palpebrarum effectively treated with tea tree oil.

Keywords: Phthiriasis palpebrarum; biomicroscopy; blepharitis; pthirus pubis; tea tree oil.

Publication types

Case Reports