Head Lice

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• If your doctor prescribes medicine, use it exactly as directed. A medication that kills lice does not always kill all the nits. You must remove them from your hair with a special fine-toothed comb. If this kind of comb does not come with your medicine, you can buy one at a drugstore.
• Removing the nits will be easier if you first soak your hair in a solution of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water. Comb the lice-infested hair completely--from the skin outward--once a day until treatment is complete. You do not have to shave or cut the hair in the affected area.
• Avoid close contact with anyone until your doctor tells you the lice are all gone.
• All clothing, bedding, and towels that have been worn or used either three days before or during treatment should be machine washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes. Items that cannot be washed should be dry cleaned, hung outside for 2 days, or sealed in a plastic bag for 10 days.
• Soak combs, brushes, barrettes, and curlers in an antiseptic solution, rubbing alcohol, or lice-killing shampoo for 1 or 2 hours. Or boil them for 5 to 10 minutes. Vacuum all rugs, mattresses, and furniture carefully.
• If a child develops the problem, be sure to tell the school or daycare center that the youngster has head lice. They will tell you when the child may return to school.

Call Your Doctor If...

• The bites become pus-filled or crusty, and the hair becomes matted and foul-smelling. These are signs of infection.
• Itching or rash return to the scalp after treatment.
• The medication causes any kind of reaction.

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