TY - JOUR T1 - Lousy lament JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 643 LP - 643 VL - 54 IS - 505 AU - Alison Woolf Y1 - 2004/08/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/54/505/643.2.abstract N2 - One of the great strengths of medicine as a career choice is its diversity. If so inclined, one can grapple with the complexities of neurosurgery, embroil oneself in the boggling world of genetic research, or just marvel at the humble head louse. Note I said ‘marvel’ and not ‘raise eyebrows skywards and scratch in sympathy’, which is the usual GP response to the parental lament of ‘Kylie's got nits again, doc!’ In fact, only a consultant in communicable disease with a lobotomy could seriously be interested in lice. Or so I thought until a series of fate-related events changed my opinion of these parasitic little Phthiraptera.First, came one of our monthly significant event audit meetings. The highlights of these very worthy gatherings usually consist of seeing who's made it onto the ‘obit list’ and the long running ‘car park saga’, or how to stop the punters from blocking … ER -