Skip to main content
  1. Right Decisions
  2. DGRefHelp - NHS Dumfries & Galloway
  3. Sexual health
  4. Back
  5. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
  6. Pubic Lice
Important: please update your RDS app to version 4.7.3 Details with newsletter below.

Please update your RDS app to v4.7.3

We asked you in January to update to v4.7.2.  After the deployment planned for 27th February, this new update will be needed to ensure that you are able to download RDS toolkits even when the RDS website is not available. We will wait until as many users as possible have downloaded the new version before switching off the old system for app downloads and moving entirely to the new approach.

To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. 

To update to the latest release:

 On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Right Decision Service newsletter: February 2025

Welcome to the February 2025 update from the RDS team

1.     Next release of RDS

 

A new release of RDS is planned (subject to outcomes of current testing) for week beginning 24th February. This will deliver:

 

  • Fixes to mitigate the recurring glitches with the RDS admin area and the occasional brief user interface outages which have arisen following implementation of the new distributed technology infrastructure in December 2024.

 

  • Capability to embed content from Google calendar, Google Maps, Daily Motion, Twitter feeds, Microsoft Stream into RDS pages.

 

  • Capability to include simple multiplication in RDS calculators.

 

The release will also incorporate a number of small fixes, including:

  • Exporting of form within Medicines Sick Day Guidance in polypharmacy toolkit
  • Links to redundant content appearing in search in some RDS toolkits
  • Inclusion of accordion headers alongside accordion text in search result snippets.
  • Feedback form on mobile app.
  • Internal links on mobile app version of benzo tapering tool

 

We will let you know when the date and time for the new release are confirmed.

 

2.     New RDS developments

There is now the capability to publish toolkits on the web with left hand side navigation rather than tiles on the homepage. To use this feature, turn on the “Toggle navigation panel” option at the top of the Page settings menu at toolkit homepage level – see below. Please note that publication to downloadable mobile app for this type of navigation is still under development.

The Benzodiazepine tapering tool (https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/benzotapering) is now available as part of the RDS toolkit for the national benzodiazepine prescribing guidance developed by the Scottish Government Effective Prescribing team. The tool uses this national guidance developed with a wide-ranging multidisciplinary group. This should be used in combination with professional judgement and an understanding of the needs of the individual patient.

3.     Archiving and version control and new RDS Search and Browse interface

Due to the intensive work Tactuum has had to undertake on the new technology infrastructure has pushed back the delivery dates again and some new requirements have come out of the recent user acceptance testing. It now looks likely to be an April release for the search and browse interface. The archiving and version control functionality may be released earlier. We’ll keep you posted.

4.     Statistics

At the end of January, Olivia completed the generation of the latest set of usage statistics for all RDS toolkits. If you would like a copy of the stats for your toolkit, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot .

 

5.     Review of content past its review date

We have now generated reports of all RDS toolkit content that has exceeded its review date by 6 months or more. We will be in touch later this month with toolkit owners and editors to agree the plan for updating or withdrawing out of date content.

 

6.     Toolkits in development

Some important toolkits in development by the RDS team include:

  • National CVD prevention pathways – due for release end of March 2025.
  • National respiratory pathways, optimal cancer diagnostic pathways and cancer prehabilitation pathways from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery. We will shortly start work on the national cancer referral pathways, first version due for release via RDS around end of June 2025.
  • HIS Quality of Care Review toolkit – currently in final stages of quality assurance.

 

The RDS team and other information scientists in HIS have also been producing evidence summaries for the Scottish Government Realistic Medicine team, to inform development of national guidance around Procedures of Limited Clinical Value. This guidance will in due course be translated into an RDS toolkit.

 

7. Training sessions for new editors (also serve as refresher sessions for existing editors) will take place on the following dates:

  • Friday 28th February 12-1 pm
  • Tuesday 11th March 4-5 pm

 

To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)

 

To invite colleagues to sign up to receive this newsletter, please signpost them to the registration form  - also available in End-user and Provider sections of the RDS Learning and Support area.   If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot  If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.

With kind regards

 

Right Decision Service team

Healthcare Improvement Scotland

 

 

Pubic Lice

What’s new

  • First line treatment to include advice about Vaseline
  • Axilla included in areas to be treated

 

Introduction

The crab louse (phthirus pubis) is transmitted by close body contact. Affects coarse hair of the pubic area, body, and rarely the eyebrows and eyelashes.

Incubation period is usually between 5 days and several weeks.

Signs and symptoms

  • Itch
  • Identifying the eggs or crab louse (tan/grey in colour) or faecal specks (black)
  • Occasionally some individuals can have prolonged, asymptomatic infestation

Diagnosis

  • Finding the adult lice and/or eggs seen in affected areas - a magnifying glass may help. Eggs adhere to the hair.
  • Blue macules (maculae caeruleae) may be visible at feeding sites.
  • Examination under light microscopy can confirm the exact morphology.
  • NB: May also affect eyelashes and eyebrows.

Management

General advice

  • Avoid close body contact until they and their partner(s) have completed treatment.
  • Give detailed explanation of the condition, and clear and accurate written information on applying the treatment. All surfaces of the body should be treated, including the scalp, neck, and face (paying particular attention to the eyebrows and other facial hair).
  • Offer STI testing.

Treatment

First line treatment

  • Malathion 0.5% aqueous lotion (Derbac M): apply over whole body (dry) and wash off 12 hours later. Give 100ml.
  • Repeat after 7 days.
  • Eyelashes: Simple eye ointment BP can be applied to eyelash and eyelash root bd for 8-10 days, this avoids any eye irritation that may occur if using an insecticide (not Vaseline as this can irritate the
    eyes)
  • Consider advising shaving particularly hairy areas prior to treatment.
  • Lotions should be applied to all body hair, including the beard, moustache, and eyebrows, but excluding scalp (pubic lice do not attach to soft head hair).
  • Following treatment, if nits are still attached to the hair shaft then these can be removed by a fingernail or a fine tooth comb.
  • To kill any lice or nits remaining on clothing, towels, or bedding, machine-wash and machine-dry those items that the infested person used during the 2 to 3 days before treatment. Use hot water (at least 50°C) and the hot dryer cycle.
  • Items that cannot be laundered can be dry-cleaned or stored in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks.
  • Mattresses should be vacuumed.

 

Alternative regimes

Permethrin 5% cream (Lyclear Dermal cream). Apply over whole body and wash off after 12 hours. Repeat at 7 days. Permethrin is not licensed for those under 18 years of age. Give 30 to 60g.

Partner notification and follow up

Partner notification

  • Advise treatment of current sexual partners.
  • Partner notification of partners from the previous 3 months.

 

Follow up

  • Advise client to re-examine 1 week after final treatment.
  • Advise client that dead nits may remain adherent to hairs and can be removed with a special comb.
  • Treatment failures should be given the alternative from the above list, also ensure that application has been correct. Phenothrin is an alternative but the alcohol base may be irritant to the genital area.

References

  1. BASHH Guidelines [Internet]. SAGE Publications Ltd. United Kingdom National Guideline on the Management of Phthirus pubis infestation: [2007; cited 2023 Sept]. Available from: https://www.bashhguidelines.org/media/1074/28.pdf

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 30/09/2023

Next review date: 30/09/2027

Author(s): West of Scotland Managed Clinical Network for Sexual Health Clinical Guidelines Group .

Version: 7.1

Approved By: West of Scotland Managed Clinical Network for Sexual Health