HEAD LICE
 
CAUSE:  Head lice are tiny insects that are light grey to brown in color. They lay their tiny white or light colored eggs (nits) on the hair shaft, close to the head. The nits are tear-shaped and unlike dandruff, they adhere tightly to the hair shaft and are note easily removed. They are not caused by lack of cleanliness.

TRANSMISSION:Head lice are easily spread from person to person usually by close head to head contact and by sharing personal items such as scarves, hats and combs. Animals do not transmit head lice.

INCUBATION:     Lice eggs (nits) hatch in a week; sexual maturity is reached in 8-10 days.

CONTROL: Effective control of head lice requires adequate treatment of the infested individual, household and other contacts, personal articles, and home environment.

TREATMENT OF INFESTED INDIVIDUALS:
Head lice are not dislodged by water, regular shampoo, or dandruff shampoo. Several products to kill head lice are available. Some products require a medical prescription; others can be obtained over-the-counter at your local pharmacy. Please note the following precautions when selecting a treatment product. Some non-prescription shampoos are not to be used by individuals allergic to ragweed. Therefore consult physician or pharmacist for alternative treatment. Also, if pregnant women and children under 2 years old need to be treated they should contact a physician for a safe treatment.

TREATMENT OF INFESTED INDIVIDUALS:

  • Change the clothing before and after the treatment.
  • Wash the hair that with a shampoo that does not contain a conditioner or a cream rinse. Any coating on the hair makes the medication less effective.
  • If using medicated shampoo apply to dry or almost dry hair. If using medicated cream rinse apply to towel dried hair.
  • Follow the label directions for the medication exactly. Do not use more or less medication than recommended and leave the medication on the exact length of time stated in the label directions.
  • Repeat medication in 7-10 days. (This is to kill lice that hatch from nits not destroyed by intial treatment).
  • If you are treating several people you may wish to wear protective gloves.
  • Do not re-wash the hair for I - 2 days.
  • Do not use the medication more than once every 7 days. Remove live lice and eggs by hand.

AFTER TREATMENT OF INFESTED INDIVIDUALS:

  • Lice medication kills lice but not all the nits (eggs). Nits will remain on hair and must be removed daily
  • Suggested methods for removal include fine tooth combs, attaching gauze to teeth of combs, or using fingernails to pull off nits.
  • A vinegar rinse of approximately 1/4 cup of white vinegar to two cups of lukewarm water applied to treated hair for 30-60 minutes may help to loosen nits during combing.
  • Other products specifically formulated to make it easier to remove lice eggs (nits) from the hair can be purchased over-the-counter. Consult your pharmacist.
  • Recheck the head daily for head lice for 2 weeks after the second treatment using a good light or sunlight.

HOUSEHOLD AND OTHER CONTACTS:

  • Check everyone in the household for lice, especially other young children and bed mates.
  • Everyone with eggs or lice MUST be treated on the same day.
  • Only persons with lice or nits need to be retreated in 7-10 days.
  • Be sure to notify friends, extended family, other social contacts, and the school of the lice infestation.
  • If contacts are infested and not treated, the lice can reoccur.

TREATMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND PERSONAL ARTICLES:

  • Lice and nits are sensitive to heat and cold.
  • All clothing, head gear, barrettes, brushes and combs, towels, bed linen, and stuffed toys used by the person with head lice or nits within the last 2 days must be cleaned.
  • Clean washable items by hand or by machine in water hotter than 130 degrees Fahrenheit with laundry detergent.
  • Dry all items at least 20 minutes in the dryer on the hottest setting.
  • Items that cannot be washed can be treated by one of the following methods:
    • Dry cleaning.
    • Bacuuming thoroughly (for example: stuffed toys) 
    • Sealing in plastic bags for 10 days. 
    • Placing in the freezer for 24 hours.
    • Soak combs and brushes in 2% Lysol solution (2 tablespoons Lysol per I quart water), rubbing alcohol or a pediculicide (a lice killing product) for I hour, or immerse in water hotter than 130 degrees Fahrenheit for I hour.
    • Thoroughly vacuum upholstered furniture, carpet, mattresses, pillows, car upholstery and car seats. 
    • Spraying or fogging homes with insecticides or lice killing sprays is not recommended.
  • Individuals may return to work or school after treatment.

If lice infestation persists beyond the second treatment, please consult your physician and/or call the Waukesha County Public Health Center for further instructions. If you have other questions, please call:

WAUKESHA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER
(262) 896-8430
(Non-Metro call 1-800-540-3620)

Public Health Center
615 W. Moreland Boulevard
Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188
Phone: (414) 896-8430 - Non-Metro: 1-800-540-3620
        Fax: (414) 896-8387 - TTY: (414) 896-8234
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