Recognition, Treatment and Prevention of Head Lice

by Katie M. Bell, RPA-C

Pediculous capitis, also commonly known as head lice, is one of the most common medical conditions treated in pediatric offices every day. For that reason, we recognize this condition in September for Head Lice Prevention month.

The head louse is a tiny, wingless parasitic insect that lives among the human hairs and feeds on tiny amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Head lice need to be treated quickly and effectively as it can easily spread from person to person. Although head lice are very small, they can be seen by the naked eye. However, it is much more common to see nits in the hair rather than live lice. Scratching or small red bumps on the scalp from the scratching is usually the last sign of head lice and could take weeks to days to start.

Early detection of head lice is vital in order to start prompt treatment and decrease the spread of lice, as they are very contagious, especially in group settings like schools, camps, daycares, etc. The lice will spread from head to head contact or through sharing brushes, hats, and clothing. Your child’s doctor can recommend over-the-counter or prescription head creams or shampoos in order to treat the head lice. After treatment with the recommended medication, your doctor may suggest combing out all nits with a fine-tooth comb and may also need to repeat treatment in 7-10 days if there are any newly hatched nits. If your child is two months of age or younger, you should not use medicated treatments and instead need to carefully remove lice and nits by hand.

After treatment, careful steps need to be taken to prevent re-infestation. All bed linens and clothing need to be washed in hot water and put on the hot cycle of the dryer. All carpets and upholstered furniture should be vacuumed, and stuffed animals that cannot be washed should be placed in an airtight container for at least three days. Lastly, all hair care items should be soaked or simply thrown away. Be patient. Follow instructions and treatments as directed by your child’s doctor, and you will be well on your way to keeping your family head lice free.