Download Definition Head lice Lice are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that

Definition
Head lice
Lice are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that feed on your blood. Lice are easily spread — especially by
schoolchildren — through close personal contact and by sharing belongings.
Several types of lice exist:

Head lice. These lice develop on your scalp. They're easiest to see at the nape of your neck and over
your ears.

Body lice. These lice live in clothing and on bedding and move on to your skin to feed. Body lice most
often affect people — such as homeless or transient individuals — who aren't able to bathe or launder
clothing regularly.

Pubic lice. Commonly called crabs, these lice occur on the skin and hair of your pubic area and, less
frequently, on coarse body hair, such as chest hair, eyebrows or eyelashes.
You or your child can have good personal hygiene habits and still get lice. Unless treated properly, this
condition can become a recurring problem.
Symptoms
Head lice
Signs and symptoms of lice include:

Intense itching.

Tickling feeling from movement of hair.

Lice on your scalp, body, clothing, or pubic or other body hair. Adult lice may be about the size of a
sesame seed or slightly larger.

Lice eggs (nits) on hair shafts. Nits resemble tiny pussy willow buds. Nits can be mistaken for dandruff,
but unlike dandruff, they can't be easily brushed out of hair.

Small, red bumps on the scalp, neck and shoulders.
When to see a doctor
Usually you can get rid of lice by taking self-care steps that include using nonprescription shampoo that's
specifically formulated to kill lice.
However, see your doctor if:

Nonprescription shampoo doesn't kill the lice — your doctor can prescribe a stronger, prescription
shampoo

You're pregnant — don't use any anti-lice shampoo until you talk to your doctor

You have any infected hives or skin abrasions from scratching
Causes
You can get lice by coming into contact with either lice or their eggs. Eggs hatch in about one week. Lice
can't fly or walk on the ground. They spread through:

Head-to-head or body-to-body contact. This may occur as children or family members play or interact
closely.

Proximity of stored belongings. Storing infected clothing in closets, in lockers or on side-by-side hooks
at school, or storing personal items such as pillows, blankets, combs and stuffed toys in proximity at
home can permit lice to spread.

Items shared among friends or family members. These may include clothing, headphones, brushes,
combs, hair decorations, towels, blankets, pillows and stuffed toys.

Contact with contaminated furniture. Lying on a bed or sitting in overstuffed, cloth-covered furniture
recently used by someone infected with lice can spread them. Lice can live for one to two days off the
body.

Sexual contact. Pubic lice usually spread through sexual contact and most commonly affect adults.
Pubic lice found on children may be a sign of sexual exposure or abuse.
Preparing for your appointment
Often, you can get rid of lice with over-the-counter treatments and by properly washing contaminated
household items, such as sheets, towels and clothes. If these measures don't work, see your family
doctor or a general practitioner.
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to
be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your
appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do

Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason
for which you scheduled the appointment.

Write down key personal information, including when you might have been exposed to lice, whom you
might have exposed, and what household items might be contaminated.

Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.

Ask a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the
information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something
that you missed or forgot.

Write down questions to ask your doctor. Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of
questions ahead of time will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most
important to least important in case time runs out.
Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

How do I treat lice?

Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?

How do I rid my household items of lice?

Who do I need to inform about my condition?

What other measures do I need to take to avoid re-infesting myself or others?

Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?

Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you
recommend?

Should I plan for a follow-up visit?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during
your appointment when you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?

How were you exposed to lice?

Is there anyone you might have exposed to lice?

How severe are your symptoms?
What you can do in the meantime
If you think or know you have lice, avoid sharing personal items, bedding, towels or clothing. Bathe and
follow self-care measures, including washing contaminated items in hot water.
If you think or know you have a pubic lice infestation, also avoid sexual activity until you've been treated.
Tests and diagnosis
During an examination, your doctor may examine you for lice using a magnifying lens and check for nits
using a special light, called a Wood's light, which makes the nits look pale blue.
Head lice
A diagnosis of head lice can be made after a live young or adult louse is seen in the hair or on the scalp,
or after one or more nits is seen on hair shafts located within 1/4 inch (6.4 millimeters) of the scalp.
If you don't see any live lice or you see nits that are more than 1/4 inch away from the scalp, the
infestation is no longer active and you don't need treatment.
Body lice
A diagnosis of body lice may be made if eggs or crawling lice are found in the seams of clothing or on
bedding. It's possible to see a body louse on skin if it crawls there to feed.
Pubic lice
Pubic lice are diagnosed when moving lice or nits are seen on hair in the pubic area or on other areas of
coarse hair, such as chest hair, eyebrows or eyelashes.
Treatments and drugs
Use medications that treat lice only as directed. Applying too much can cause red, irritated skin.
Head lice
Treatment for head lice may involve:

Over-the-counter products. Shampoos containing pyrethrin (Rid, others) or permethrin (Nix) are usually
the first option used to combat lice infestations. These work best if you follow the directions very closely.
In some geographical locations, lice have grown resistant to the ingredients in over-the-counter lice
treatments. If over-the-counter preparations don't work, your doctor can prescribe shampoos or lotions
that contain different ingredients.

Prescription medications. Malathion (Ovide) is a prescription medication that you apply to your hair and
then rub into your hair and scalp. Malathion is flammable, so keep it away from heat sources such as hair
dryers, electric curlers and cigarettes. If you're pregnant or breast-feeding, talk to your doctor before using
this product.
Benzyl alcohol lotion (Ulesfia) is a newer prescription treatment for head lice. You apply the lotion to the
scalp and hair for 10 minutes and then rinse it off with water. Seven days later you repeat the treatment.
Possible side effects include irritation of the skin, scalp and eyes as well as numbness at the application
site. This medication isn't recommended for children younger than 6 months of age.
Finally, lindane is a prescription shampoo that's sometimes prescribed when other measures fail.
However, due to increasing resistance of lice to this medication and to serious neurological side effects,
lindane is no longer recommended as a first line treatment for head lice.
Body lice
If you have body lice, you don't need treatment. However, you must take the same self-care measures,
such as treating clothing and other items, as you would for head lice. If self-care measures fail to get rid
of the lice, your doctor might recommend trying one of the nonprescription or prescription treatments for
head lice.
Pubic lice
Pubic lice can be treated with the same nonprescription and prescription treatments used for head lice.
Self-care important
Whether you use over-the-counter or prescription shampoo to kill lice, much of the treatment involves
self-care steps you can take at home. These include making sure all the nits are removed and that all
clothing, bedding, personal items and furniture are decontaminated. In most cases, killing lice on your
body isn't difficult. The challenge is getting rid of all the nits and avoiding contact with other lice at home
or school.
Lifestyle and home remedies
You can get rid of lice with a patient, thorough approach that involves cleaning yourself or your child and
any personal belongings that may be contaminated.
These steps may help you eliminate lice infestations:

Use lotions and shampoos. Choose from among several over-the-counter lotions and shampoos (Nix,
Rid, others) designed to kill lice. Apply the product according to package instructions. You may need to
repeat treatment with the lotion or shampoo in seven to 10 days. These lotions and shampoos typically
aren't recommended for children under age 2.

After shampoo treatment, rinse your hair with vinegar. Grasp a lock of hair with a cloth saturated with
vinegar and strip the lock downward to remove nits. Repeat until you've treated all the hair in this way. Or
soak hair with vinegar and leave it on for a few minutes before combing. Then towel-dry the hair. These
methods can help remove nits from the hair shaft. Cutting hair very short also can help.

Comb wet hair. Use a fine-toothed or nit comb to physically remove the lice from wet hair. Repeat every
three to four days for at least two weeks. This method may be used in combination with other treatments
and is usually recommended as the first line treatment for children under age 2.

Wash contaminated items. Wash bedding, stuffed animals, clothing and hats with hot, soapy water — at
least 130 F (54 C) — and dry them at high heat for at least 20 minutes.

Seal unwashable items. Place them in an airtight bag for two weeks.

Vacuum. Give the floor and furniture a good vacuuming.

Cover furniture. Use a plastic painter's dropcloth to cover furniture for two weeks to prevent acquiring
another case of lice. Don't do this if you have a toddler who may become tangled in a plastic sheet and
suffocate.

Wash combs and brushes. Use very hot, soapy water — at least 130 F (54 C) — or soak combs and
brushes in rubbing alcohol for an hour.
Prevention
It's difficult to prevent the spread of head lice among children in child care and school settings. There's so
much close contact among children and their belongings that lice can spread easily. It's no reflection on
your hygiene habits or those of your children, and it's not a failure on your part as a parent if your child
gets head lice. The best approach is simply to take thorough steps to get rid of the lice — and their eggs
— so that you don't have more lice to deal with.
Ask your child not to share personal belongings such as:

Hats

Scarves

Coats

Combs

Brushes

Hair decorations

Headphones
However, it's not realistic to expect that you and your child can eliminate all the types of contact that may
result in the spread of lice.
Your child may have nits in his or her hair but not necessarily develop a case of head lice. Some nits are
empty eggs. However, nits that are found within 1/4 inch (6.4 millimeters) of the scalp should be treated
— even if you find only one — to prevent the possibility of hatching. Nits that are farther away from the
scalp are probably from an old infestation and don't need to be treated.
Symptoms

See Also

Pubic lice (crabs)

Body lice

Head lice
References
DS00368 Feb. 18, 2010
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