Head Lice (Pediculosis) FAQs

Head lice are tiny insects that can live and breed in your hair, close to your scalp.
Head lice are common among young children and do not spread disease, but they are considered a nuisance because of the itch they can cause.
Head lice do not make you feel ill but can make your scalp very itchy, cause irritability and make you lose sleep.
Some people do not have any symptoms of head lice at all.
Lice have three stages in their life cycle: the nit (egg), nymph and adult.
The nits are grey-ish-white, tan or yellow ovals about the size of a grain of sand. Nits are seen at the base of individual hairs close to the scalp and can often look like dandruff.
Nymphs are baby lice; they look like adult lice but smaller.
Adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed and can be hard to see. They are tan to greyish-white in colour but can appear darker next to a person’s hair. Adult lice can live for up to 30 days on a person’s hair but die within days if they fall off a person’s scalp.

Anyone can get head lice; having head lice does not mean you are not clean.
Head lice spread from direct head-to-head / hair-to-hair contact with another person who has
lice, or by sharing items like hats, hair brushes or headphones.
You can also get lice from lying on a bed, couch, pillow or carpet that has recently been in
contact with a person with lice.
Head lice do not do not jump or fly, but they do move quickly.
Dogs, cats and other pets do not play a role in spreading lice.

To confirm head lice you need to find live nymph or adult lice in the hair. Children can have a few nits without actually having a case of head lice —especially if the nits are found away from the scalp.
To check for head lice use a well-lit room as head lice move quickly, like to avoid the light and are hard to see.
Head lice are usually found very close to the scalp, at the bottom of the neck and behind the ears.
To check a person’s hair you may need a magnifying glass. Part the hair in small sections with a fine-toothed comb, moving from one side of the head to the other.

Children with head lice should be given treatment and then attend school or child care as usual.
Teach all children to avoid head-to-head contact with other children and to never share things such as combs, hairbrushes, hats or headphones.

Many insecticidal shampoos are designed to treat head lice and have proven to be effective.
Home remedies — such as mayonnaise, petroleum jelly, olive oil, vinegar or margarine — are unlikely to kill the lice and are not recommended.
Talk to your health care provider if you are pregnant or breast feeding or before treating
children under the age of two (do not use lindane on children under two).
Talk to the pharmacist when buying the shampoo and follow the package directions carefully for best results.
Do not leave the shampoo or rinse in the hair longer than directed.
Rinse hair well with cool water after the treatment. It is best to use a sink and not to sit in the bath or shower while using the treatment.
Sometimes the treatment can make the head itchy or can leave a mild burning feeling. This does not necessarily mean the head lice are back.
Check the heads of all family members, and treat everyone who has head lice at the same time.
The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that after several attempts at treating pediculosis and their environment as directed, if it is reoccurring and live lice are seen, you should consult with your health care provider or pharmacist for a second line treatment. There are also
services in the community that will come into the home to irradicate it for those who can afford it.

Head lice do not survive for long times away from the scalp, and there is usually no need for extra cleaning of the entire home.
Clean all items that have been in prolonged contact over the past three days with an individual diagnosed with live head lice:
- Soak all combs, brushes, helmets, etc. in very hot water for at least five minutes.
- Wash items such as hats, scarves, pillow cases, sheets and towels in hot soapy water and dry in a hot dryer.
- Dry washable items in a hot dryer for 15 to 20 minutes. For items that are difficult to wash, either dry clean them or store them in an air-tight plastic bag for two weeks.

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