Head Lice

Many people with lice do not have any symptoms. Some people with have an itchy scalp, especially behind ears or at the nape of the neck. Itchiness is caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva when the insect feeds on blood in the scalp. 

An inspection of the head is the best way to find lice or nits. As there are generally less than 10 to 20 live lice on the head, it is extremely important to conduct a thorough inspection.  

Lice can spread easily through head-to-head contact. They do not fly or jump. Lice can be spread from person-to-person until all lice or nits are dead. 
 

Spread of head lice through personal belongings like hair brushes, combs, pillow cases, and hats is possible but less common. Fabrics such as  sheets, carpets, and sofas don’t easily spread lice.

Everyone who has hair can get lice. Lice can also survive in facial hair, although it is less common. 
 

Lice are not the result of poor personal hygiene and are common in school or daycare settings, especially during the back-to-school period.
 

Anyone in direct contact with someone who has lice has more risk of getting them too.

The person who has living lice and live nits must be treated quickly with a special shampoo or lotion that treats lice.
 

Treatment is most effective if everyone with lice or live nits is treated on the same day. 
 

It may be difficult to determine whether the nits are dead or alive. If in doubt, consult a healthcare professional before starting treatment because it is only recommended to treat people with live lice or live nits.
 

Choosing the right product
 

Lice and nits resist ordinary shampoos but can be eliminated with special treatment. Some treatments can be used by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding and others are indicated for children under 2 years old. It is best to consult to determine the most appropriate treatment.  
 

It is strongly discouraged to use products for pet lice, natural oil or substances, hairdryer or homemade recipe 

Directions for applications 
 

• Depending on the treatment used, the product must be applied 2 or 3 times, within a specific time frame that your pharmacist will explain to you.
• Apply all the recommended treatments, even if you no longer see live lice or viable nits in the hair.
• Follow the product’s instructions to apply. Then dry the hair using a clean towel or hairdryer. These products may cause itching, redness or irritation of the scalp. 

• Use a nit comb to remove lice and nits 2, 11, and 17 days after the first treatment. Using a nit comb on wet hair increases your chances of successful treatment. 

   

Removing nits

After the use of treatment, it is important to remove live nits from the hair to avoid the hatching of new lice. Make sure you have a fine-toothed comb, good lighting and have easy access to hot water so that you can rinse the comb with each comb-through. If possible, use a magnifying glass to help you.

Steps to remove nits or do a hair inspection:

1. Apply a humid towel onto the scalp for at least 30 minutes to remove nits more easily. 
2. Untangle your hair with a normal comb.
3. Inspect the hair one section at a time. Start from one side of the head to the other, and from the front of the head to the back. Pay attention to the area behind the ears and the nape.
4. Part the hair into thin sections about the width of the fine comb. If the hair is very long, split in 2 cm locks.
5. Comb through each section of the hair.
6. Incline the fine-toothed comb toward the scalp and comb the section of hair as close as possible to the scalp.
7. Ensure the comb’s teeth have gone all the way through the hair section.
8. Slide the fine-toothed comb from the scalp to the end of the hair section.
9. Rinse the fine-tooth comb with hot water after every stroke.

10. To remove the nits that can’t be combed out, use your nails or tweezers to slide them down the hair shaft. The fine-tooth comb and ordinary comb must be cleaned immediately after use. Don't forget to wash your hands when finished removing nits.

     

Eyebrow treatment
 

If you find lice or nits on the eyebrows, apply a thick coat of petroleum jelly (Vaseline® or Lacri-lube®) 2 to 4 times a day for 1 week. This stops the lice from moving and suffocates nits, preventing them from hatching. Remove the lice and nits with your nails or tweezers. 
 

Live lice after treatment
 

If live lice are found 17 days after the first treatment, or there are doubts about the effectiveness of the treatment, consult a doctor or nurse so that a health professional can assess the situation and tell you what steps to take to get rid of the lice. 
 

Treatment might fail due to improper application. The lice might be resistant to the type of product used or there might also be a new infestation.

Lice can be transmitted through personal effects (bedding, combs, hairbrushes, hats, etc.), but this is less common than through head-to-head contact. However, if a notice from the school or childcare centre is received, treat personal belongings as follow:
 

• Soak personal effects in undiluted anti-lice shampoo for 5 to 10 minutes  

or 

• Soak belongings in hot water (around 65°C or 150°F) for 5 to 10 minutes. 

or 

• Put clothing in the dryer set at the hottest setting for 20 minutes. 

or 

• Store belongings in a sealed plastic bag for 10 days, which is the average time for nits to hatch.
• Use a vacuum to clean carpets and sofas.

It is not recommended that you spray your house or furniture with insecticide. It does not eliminate lice and can also be harmful to your health and that of your pets. 

There are no prevention treatments for lice, but you can limit or avoid spreading them by identifying and promptly treating people with lice. If you or anyone in your family gets lice, immediately inform everyone who have been in direct contact, including your children’s school or daycare staff. This way, others that may have caught lice are quickly identified and treated.
 

The following contributes to reducing chances of catching lice:
 

• Tie up long hair
• Remind children to:
  
   
  • Avoid head-to-head contact.
  • Store their hats, caps or scarves in the sleeves of their coat.
  • Avoid sharing personal items such as combs, brushes and hats.
• Regularly inspect the heads of everyone in your family with a nit comb:
  • As soon as there is a case of itchy scalp.
  • Daily, if in contact with someone with lice.
  • At least once a week after washing hair, especially during the back-to-school period