ENT/rsc-7 - BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF HUMAN LICE
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CONTROL OF HUMAN LICE: HEAD BODY PUBIC

 

Head Lice

  1. Treat all infested persons. Check all family members, classmates and playmates. Anyone who is infested should receive proper treatment. There are several pediculicidal (lice-killing) shampoos/rinses, such as ClearTM, RID®, Nix®, A200® and R&C Shampoo® can be purchased at most drugstores. Another product Ovide®, which contains the insecticide malathion, is available by prescription only. These products work well against nymphs and adults, but not all of them will kill eggs. One or two additional treatments at 7-10 day intervals are sometimes needed in order to eliminate the infestation. entirely. Read and follow the instructions on the product labels carefully. Particularly when children are involved, we strongly recommend that you seek advice from your family physician or child's pediatrician about the best way to proceed in solving the problem quickly and safely.


  2. Remove nits from hair. Mechanical removal of louse eggs helps reduce the number of lice that might hatch on the scalp. Since children who are declared "nit-free" by a doctor or school nurse can return to class sooner, removing nits has a positive impact on their morale and lessens disruption to their school and social activities. Special combs are provided with the pediculicides and the instructions for their use must be followed explicitly. Be persistent and thorough. Because the eggs are literally cemented to the hair shaft, they are not easily dislodged. Contrary to popular belief, using vinegar in a shampoo or as a rinse is not effective because it does not dissolve the glue that binds the nits to the hair shaft. There are also special non-insecticidal rinses, such as ClearTM Lice Egg Remover, that dissolve the glue binding the eggs to the hair. Nits are more easily removed after shampooing/rinsing, when the hair is still damp. Several combing sessions may be needed to remove all of the nits.


  3. Delouse personal items. Although head lice cannot survive for long periods off of people, sanitation helps end the problem more quickly. Items such as brushes and combs should be washed thoroughly in hot water (at least 130o F) for 5-10 minutes. Washable clothing, hats, head bands, bed linen and other personal items should be washed in hot soapy water, then dried in a clothes drier for at least 20-30 minutes. Non-washable clothing can be dry-cleaned, but the expense is hard to justify when a simpler solution would be to isolate theses items for a few days. Vacuuming mattresses, uphostlery and carpeting will pick up stray lice. Although hair with attached lice eggs may fall out and become attached to stuffed animals or similar toys, such items do not serve as reservoirs for the lice. If there is some concern about these items carrying lice, the simplest solution is to vacuum them or (if possible) place them in a clothes dryer set on maximum heat for about 1 hour. Isolating items in a garbage bag for 5-7 days should also eliminate any active/hatching lice. Spraying furniture, carpeting and bedding with an insecticide serves no real purpose other than providing some margin of psychological comfort. Although such sprays kill an occasional stray louse, family members who are already being treated with insecticidal shampoos can be exposed unnecessarily to additional pesticides. We do not recommend spraying insecticides carpeting, furniture or other items.

    The extent of delousing activities in a school depends largely on the age of the students and the layout of the classroom. As in the home, vacuuming carpeting and/or sleeping mats can help. Mats with vinyl or other non-fabric coverings can be cleaned with hot, soapy water. Clothing or personal items that students leave in closets, storage areas or desks should be removed and cleaned. Application of insecticides in the classroom is not necessary. [ Back to head lice page ]

BODY LICE

Treatment for body lice is virtually identical to the procedures for head lice. First, the infested person must be treated with pediculicides (lotions or shampoos). As in the case of head lice, body lice move rapidly from person to person upon brief contact or when clothing is shared. Other family members (or classmates) with whom the person comes in contact should be checked and treated, if necessary. Clothing, bed linen and other personal items that have been used recently must be deloused as outlined in Step #3 for head lice. Vacuuming mattresses, carpets and uphostlery will help remove stray lice. [Back to body lice page]

PUBIC LICE

As with other louse problems, successful treatment is based on a combination of sanitation and pediculicides:
  • Family members who share a bed with the infested person must be examined and treated if necessary.
  • Undergarments and bed linens should be washed in hot water for at least 20 minutes, then dried on a high setting.
  • Louse control products are available either directly at a drugstore or by prescription; however, we strongly recommend that infested persons first seek advice from their personal physician.

Because crab lice can only survive off of people for about 24 hours, insecticidal treatments in the home, workplace, school or other areas are neither necessary nor are they recommended.

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Pest information and control recommendations presented here were developed for North Carolina and may not be appropriate for other states or regions. Any recommendations for the use of chemicals are included solely as a convenience to the reader and do not imply that insecticides are necessarily the sole or most appropriate method of control. Any mention of brand names or listing of commercial products or services in the publication does not imply endorsements by North Carolina Cooperative Extension nor discrimination against similar products or services. All recommendations for pesticide use were legal at the time of publication, but the status of pesticide registrations and use patterns are subject to change by actions of state and federal regulatory agencies. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for using these products according to the regulations in their state and to the guidelines on the product label. Before applying any chemical, always obtain current information about its use and read the product label carefully. For assistance, contact the Cooperative Extension Center in your county.

Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.



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