What is the term for the infestation of life on a human host?

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Pediculosis is the specific term used to describe an infestation of lice on a human host. This includes various types of lice, such as head lice, body lice, and pubic lice, which are all parasitic insects that can live on the human body and feed on blood. The term "pediculosis" originates from the Latin word "pediculus," meaning louse.

This distinction is important because while "infestation" is a general term applicable to any unwanted organism living on or in a host, pediculosis specifically refers to lice infestation. Additionally, the term "contamination" usually pertains to the presence of an undesired substance or organisms that may not necessarily be parasitic, while "infection" indicates an invasion by pathogens like bacteria or viruses that can cause disease. Therefore, in this context, pediculosis uniquely identifies the condition of lice infestation on humans.

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