Overview

Head lice are tiny bugs that can live in the hair and on the head. Live lice are tan to greyish white. They're about the size of a sesame seed. It may be easiest to find them at the base of your child's scalp, at the bottom of the neck, and behind the ears. When your child has lice, all people living in your home need to be carefully checked and then treated.

Lice eggs (nits) may be easier to see than live lice. They look like tiny yellow or white dots attached to the hair, close to the scalp. Nits can look like dandruff. But you can't pick them off with your fingernail or brush them away.

Lice aren't dangerous. They don't spread disease or have anything to do with how clean someone is. The lice may make your child's head itch.

You can treat lice and their eggs with prescription or over-the-counter medicines. After treatment, your child's skin may itch for a week or more. This is because of his or her body's reaction to the lice.

Head lice are common in preschool and elementary school children. Children should be able to keep going to school. Most doctors agree that children should not be kept from school because of lice or nits.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Use an over-the-counter medicine to kill lice. It's important to use any medicine correctly and to choose a medicine that is safe for your child. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
• Do not shampoo or condition your child's hair before you use the medicine. It's best to wait 1 to 2 days after you use the medicine before washing your child's hair.
• Check your child's scalp for live, active lice 12 hours after treatment. If you find some, talk to your doctor. Your child may need a different type of treatment.
• Follow the directions carefully. Some medicines should only be used once. Others require a 2nd treatment 7 to 9 days after the first treatment.
• Wet combing may help remove lice and nits. Use a comb with teeth that are close together. A flea comb that's made for dogs and cats will also work. Wet the hair. Comb all of the hair very carefully. Combing needs to be done over and over.
• Try to keep your child from scratching. It may help to trim your child's fingernails. Use an over-the-counter cream or calamine lotion to calm the itching. If the itching is really bad, ask the doctor about an over-the-counter antihistamine. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• Tell your child's daycare provider or school that he or she has lice. Other children should be checked and then treated if lice are found.
• Teach your children not to share anything that comes into contact with hair. For example, don't share hair bands, barrettes, towels, hats, combs, or brushes.
• You don't need to spend a lot of time or money deep cleaning your home. But it is a good idea to:
  • Soak hairbrushes, combs, barrettes, and other items for 10 minutes in hot water.
  • Vacuum carpets, mattresses, couches, and other fabric-covered furniture.
  • Machine-wash clothes, bedding, towels, and hats in hot water. Dry them in a hot dryer. If you don't have access to a washing machine, instead you can store these items in a sealed plastic bag for 14 days.