[Back again: the clothes louse (Pediculus humanus var. corporis)].

In two homeless men aged 38 and 32 years, who suffered from itching, infestation with body lice (Pediculus humanus var. corporis, a.k.a. clothes lice) was diagnosed. This infestation is rare in the Netherlands. In 1993 and 1994 and infection with body lice was registered 41 times in 31 patients at the clinic for homeless of the Community Health Service of Utrecht. The body louse can be seen by the naked eye. Treatment is by hygienic measures, pediculicides if necessary, and by prevention. Important to recognize is that P. humanus can be the vector of trench fever (Bartonella quintana), relapsing fever and typhus.