Head Lice

What are head lice?

Lice are tiny, grayish-tan bugs that feed on the blood vessels in the scalp. They live in the hair and can be passed from person to person by close contact or on shared objects such as combs, towels, barrettes, pillows, or headphones.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom is intense itching on the back of the head or neck. Other symptoms include a tickling feeling of something moving in the hair or sores on the head from scratching.

How are head lice diagnosed?

To check for lice, use a fine-toothed comb to comb through the hair. Look for lice in the comb after each combing. Adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed. Also look for the small white or yellow eggs, called nits. Nits attach to hair and are hard to see. They look like dandruff or hair spray droplets. The scalp can also be inspected closely, but the lice move fast and are hard to see. Your health care provider can help examine the hair or scalp with a microscope or magnifying glass. You should also check the scalp of every member of the family.

Lice live up to 30 days on a person's head.

How are head lice treated?

Treat head lice with medicated anti-lice shampoo or lotions. You can buy them without a prescription or they can be prescribed by a health care provider. Treatments for head lice are very strong. Do not use more, or use them more often than recommended. Do not use home remedies such as tea tree oil, olive oil, mayonnaise, or petroleum jelly before or after you use medicated treatments. Always follow the instructions given for the specific treatment. Pregnant women and children under the age of two should not use any over-the-counter medicine unless told to do so by a health care provider.

After using the anti-lice medicine, the dead nits will remain. Use a fine-toothed comb every day for 2 weeks to remove all the dead nits. Removing nits is easier if you soak the hair with vinegar or a vinegar-based product for 3 minutes. Then, place a towel dampened with the vinegar solution on the hair for 30 to 60 minutes before using the comb to remove the nits.

Two weeks after treatment, recheck for signs of nits in the hair. Check with your provider before retreating.

How do I get rid of lice in my home?

To help get rid of lice in your home, you can:

Wash clothes, bed linens, and towels. Use hot water, then dry on the hot cycle for at least 20 minutes. Items such as stuffed animals, headphones, and hats that are not machine washable must be dry cleaned or stored in a tightly sealed plastic bag for at least 10 days.
Soak combs, brushes, and other hair styling aids in hot water for at least 10 minutes. The water temperature should be at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54.4 degrees Celsius), or hotter. You may also soak them in rubbing alcohol or Lysol, and
Vacuum all carpets, pillows, mattresses, upholstered furniture, and car seats.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File CHL3726F.HTM Release 9.0/2006