Head Lice

 

Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp, where they lay their eggs. Head lice are not disease spreading insects. Something to keep in mind: Having head lice does not mean you do not have good hygiene.

 

What do head lice look like?

• Lice have 3 stages – the egg (nit), the nymph and the adult.

• Nits are whitish-grey, tan or yellow ovals, around the size of a grain of sand. They stick to the hair close to the scalp and can look like dandruff. Nits hatch in 9 to 10 days.

• Nymphs are baby lice. They look like adult lice but smaller.

• Adult lice are approximately the size of a sesame seed and are hard to see. Adult lice can live for up to 30 days on a person’s head, but they die within 3 days away from the scalp. 

 

How do they spread?

• Head lice spread easily, especially where people are in close contact. They are very common among school-aged children or children attending child care.

• Head lice spread through direct hair-to-hair contact or indirectly by sharing things like hats, combs, hairbrushes and headphones.

• Head lice don’t fly or hop, but do crawl very quickly.

• Head lice that live on people can’t live on pets, such as cats or dogs.

 

Ho do you know if you have head lice? (Signs & Symptoms)

• One of the first signs of head lice is an itchy scalp, but it is possible to have head lice without any symptoms. If you think your child has head lice, check his hair for nits right away, then again after 1 week and after 2 weeks. The earlier it is caught the easier it is to treat.

 

How do I check for head lice?

• To confirm a case of head lice, you need to find live lice. Children can have a few nits without actually having a case of head lice. Usually children have no more than 10 to 20 live lice.

• Good lighting is important to have when you are checking for head lice, as it makes it much easier to see them.

• Head lice move fast and are very hard to see. They are usually found very close to the scalp, at the base of the hairline close to the neck and behind the ears.

• To look for nits, part hair in small sections, moving from one side of the head to the other. Check carefully, looking close to the scalp.   

 

How can head lice be treated?

• In Canada, 3 insecticides (chemicals to kill insects) are approved to treat head lice:

  • Lindane (Hexit Shampoo or PMS-Lindane Shampoo).

  • Permethrin (Nix Creme Rinse or Kwellada-P Creme Rinse)

  • ​Pyrethrin (found in R&C Shampoo + Conditioner)

• Pyrethrin and permethrin are safe when used on humans. However, lindane can be toxic, so products with lindane should not be used on infants or young children younger than 2 years of age. A prescription is not needed to buy these products.

• Follow directions on the package carefully.

• Don’t leave the shampoo or rinse in the hair longer than directed.

• Rinse hair thoroughly with cool water after the treatment. It’s best to rinse over a sink, not in the bath or shower, so that other parts of the body don’t come in.

• Repeat the treatment after 7-10 days.

• These treatments can sometime cause scalp irritation such as itching or a mild burning sensation.  If your child is scratching after treatment, it does not necessarily mean the lice are back.

• A noninsecticidal product called isopropyl myristate/cyclomethicone (Resultz) is also approved in Canada to treat lice, but it should only be used in children 4 years of age and older:

  • It works by breaking down the waxy exoskeleton (‘skin’) of lice. The lice get dehydrated and die.

    • Apply to a dry scalp and rinse after 10 min.

    • Repeat after 1 week.

• Do not treat anyone with a head lice product unless you find lice in their hair. Check all family members if someone in the house has head lice.

• No home remedy has been proven to work or approved in Canada to be effective in treating head lice.

 

Should the house be disinfected if someone has head lice?

• Because head lice don’t live long off the scalp, there is no need for extra cleaning.

• To get rid of lice or nits from items like hats or pillowcases:

  • Store the items in an airtight plastic bag for 2 weeks.

  • ​Wash the items in hot water and dry in a hot dryer for 15 minutes

 

Source: North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca