Head
Lice
What are Head Lice?
Insects that live and reproduce on your head
 Head lice feed on blood from your scalp
 Head Lice are a common nuisance, and are not
considered a health hazard

Who can get Head Lice?
Anyone who has close head-to-head contact
with someone who has head lice
 More common among preschool and
elementary school-aged children and their
families
 Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or
school has nothing to do with getting head lice
 Head lice cannot live on pets or animals, only
on humans.

Contracting Head Lice
Head lice crawl quickly from
head to head when in close
contact
 Cannot fly, jump, or hop
 Head lice can be transferred
when personal objects are
shared

-
e.g. combs, brushes, hats
Recognizing Head Lice
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Tickling feeling on scalp
Itchy scalp
Feeling of something moving in the hair
Irritability
Sores on head from scratching
Presence of nits, nymphs, and/or adult head lice
What do they look like?

Adult head lice
 Tiny
wingless brown insects; size of a sesame seed
 Live for about 20 days
 If a louse crawls off of a head, it dies within 2 days
What do they look like?

Nymphs
 Are
baby head lice
 Smaller than adult head lice
 Mature in about 1 week

Nits (eggs)
 Tiny
specks; about the size of a knot in thread
 Firmly attached to the hair close to the scalp
 Nits are usually found on the hair behind the ears, at the
back of the neck, and above the forehead.
 Do not mistake for dandruff, which can be easily blown
off.
Treating Head Lice
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Ask your pharmacist for a recommended
treatment product
Only treat when nits or live head lice are
present – head lice products do not prevent
head lice.
Follow product instructions carefully to avoid
re-infestation
The products kill the head lice and many
eggs, but for most products a second
treatment is needed 7 to 10 days after the
first treatment to kill any newly-hatched
lice before they mature.
Treating Head Lice
1. Before applying treatment, shampoo child’s hair over
a sink with regular shampoo – do not use
conditioner or combination shampoo/conditioner
- many products require you to damp-dry the hair
with a towel or blow dryer.
2. Wear plastic or rubber gloves to avoid unnecessary
exposure to treatment product.
- wrap a towel tightly over the child’s eyes to
protect them
Treating Head Lice
3. Apply the head lice product according to product
directions.
- timing is important - if the product is rinsed off too
soon, head lice and nits may not be killed. If left on
too long, there is unneeded product exposure.
4. Rinse child’s hair under tap, not in shower or bath, to
minimize product exposure on the rest of the body.
- wash your hands well after using product
- do not re-wash hair for several days after treatment
Treating Head Lice
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Many products require a second treatment 7 to
10 days later to kill any newly-hatched lice.
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If you see active lice 8- 12 hours after
treatment, contact your healthcare provider or
pharmacist. A different treatment product may
be needed.
Treating Head Lice
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Talk to your healthcare provider:
 If
a child is under the age of 2
 If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
 If a person has a seizure disorder
 If a person has broken or infected skin
 If lice are on eyebrows, eyelashes or facial hair
General Information on Head Lice Products
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Follow the directions
Timing is important
Do not mix products
Rinse child’s hair under tap
Products should not be used near the
eyes, nose, or mouth
Wear plastic or rubber gloves
Wash your hands after using product
Store products away from children
Do not apply to open or infected skin
Treating Head Lice
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All nits should be removed after treating with
product
 Head
lice products are not 100 % effective
 Removing nits:
will reduce hatching of eggs that were not killed with
treatment
 will allow you to notice if a new infestation occurs

Treating Head Lice
To remove nits:
Part and lift hair to check for nits or lice
Work under a good light (window or lamp)
 Live lice can be removed with scotch tape
wrapped around your finger

Treating Head Lice
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To remove nits
 Use
your thumbnail/first finger to
grab the nit and slide it off the hair
shaft. A fine- tooth nit comb may
also be useful, but are not effective
with fine hair.
 Place nits in a plastic bag, seal and
put in garbage
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Take frequent breaks, especially
with young children.
Check and remove nits daily for
2-3 weeks.
Treating Head Lice
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Avoid home remedies – no scientific proof of
effectiveness
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Do not use flea control products, turpentine, paint
thinner, etc.
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If your child has head lice, tell the school/child
care facility and child’s close contacts
immediately to prevent further spread
Housecleaning
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Wash in hot, soapy water:
 Headwear,
combs, brushes, pillowcases, towels,
bedsheets
 Items that cannot be washed should be stored in a
sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks
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Excessive housecleaning is unnecessary, but
vacuum surfaces where heads have rested
 Sofas,
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car seats, helmets
NEVER use insecticide sprays
Controlling the spread of Head Lice
Discourage head-to-head contact and sharing of
hats, scarves, brushes, combs and headwear
 Check heads of all people in close contact
 Treat all family members with head lice at the
same time
 Check young school-aged children weekly for
head lice; more often if there is an outbreak
 If head lice continue to return, call your
healthcare provider
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Recommended websites:
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Perth District Health Unit
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Huron County Health Unit
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www.huronhealthunit.com
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
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www.pdhu.on.ca
www.cdc.gov/
Canadian Paediatric Society
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www.cps.ca
www.caringforkids.cps.ca
Please note that information about head lice
varies among sources
For further information, contact…
Health Line
519-271-7600 ext 267
or toll-free 1-877-271-7348 ext 267
www.pdhu.on.ca