Head lice

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Head lice

Nit on human hair

Lice, head - nits in the hair with close-up

Head louse emerging from egg

Head louse, male

Head louse - female

Head louse infestation - scalp

Head lice

Alternative Names:

Lice - head; Nits; Pediculosis capitis - head lice
Treatment:

Lotions and shampoos containing permethrin are usually effective. They are available over-the-counter. If these do not work, other products are available by prescription. The medications used for lice are insecticides. Therefore, they should be used exactly as directed and no more frequently than recommended.

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Certain products loosen the bond between the egg sack (nit) and hair shaft so that eggs can be easily removed. Remove the eggs with a nit comb. Removing eggs may prevent reinfection if the medication fails to kill all of them.

Treat children and adults with lice promptly and thoroughly. Wash all clothes and bed linens. This also helps prevent head lice from spreading to others.

Expectations (prognosis):

Lice are usually killed with proper treatment. However, reinfestation is possible, especially if the source of the infestation is not corrected (for example, a classroom with many infected children).

Complications:

Some people will develop a secondary skin infection from scratching.

Calling your health care provider:

First, apply home treatment. Call your health-care provider if symptoms continue after home treatment, or if you develop an irritation from the medicine.

References:

Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober, CG, eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2nd Ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone, 2003.

Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles of Infectious Diseases. 5^th Ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone, 2000:2972-2973.

Goetz CG, Pappert EJ. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 2^nd Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2003.