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Head Lice
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/headlice.html


HEAD LICE

Also called: Pediculosis

On this page


BASICS

 * Summary
 * Start Here
 * Prevention and Risk Factors
 * Treatments and Therapies


LEARN MORE

 * No links available




SEE, PLAY AND LEARN

 * No links available




RESEARCH

 * Journal Articles




RESOURCES

 * Find an Expert


FOR YOU

 * Children
 * Patient Handouts


SUMMARY


WHAT ARE HEAD LICE?

Head lice are tiny insects that live on people's heads. Adult lice are about the
size of sesame seeds. The eggs, called nits, are even smaller - about the size
of a dandruff flake. Lice and nits are found on or near the scalp, most often at
the neckline and behind the ears.

Head lice are parasites, and they need to feed on human blood to survive. They
are one of the three types of lice that live on humans. The other two types are
body lice and pubic lice. Each type of lice is different, and getting one type
does not mean that you will get another type.


HOW DO HEAD LICE SPREAD?

Lice move by crawling, because they cannot hop or fly. They spread by close
person-to-person contact. Rarely, they can spread through sharing personal
belongings such as hats or hairbrushes. Personal hygiene and cleanliness have
nothing to do with getting head lice. You also cannot get pubic lice from
animals. Head lice do not spread disease.


WHO IS AT RISK FOR HEAD LICE?

Children ages 3-11 and their families get head lice most often. This is because
young children often have head-to-head contact while playing together.


WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEAD LICE?

The symptoms of head lice include:

 * Tickling feeling in the hair
 * Frequent itching, which is caused by an allergic reaction to the bites
 * Sores from scratching. Sometimes the sores can become infected with bacteria.
 * Trouble sleeping, because head lice are most active in the dark


HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEAD LICE?

A diagnosis of head lice usually comes from seeing a louse or nit. Because they
are very small and move quickly, you may need to use a magnifying lens and a
fine-toothed comb to find lice or nits.


WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR HEAD LICE?

Treatments for head lice include both over-the-counter and prescription
shampoos, creams, and lotions. If you want to use an over-the-counter treatment
and you aren't sure which one to use or how to use one, ask your health care
provider or pharmacist. You should also check with your health care provider
first if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you want to use a treatment on a
young child.

Follow these steps when using a head lice treatment:

 * Apply the product according to the instructions. Only apply it to the scalp
   and the hair attached to the scalp. You should not use it on other body hair.
 * Use only one product at a time, unless your health care provider tells you to
   use two different kinds at once
 * Pay attention to what the instructions say about how long you should leave
   the medicine on the hair and on how you should rinse it out
 * After rinsing, use a fine-toothed comb or special "nit comb" to remove dead
   lice and nits
 * After each treatment, check your hair for lice and nits. You should comb your
   hair to remove nits and lice every 2-3 days. Do this for 2-3 weeks to be sure
   that all lice and nits are gone.

All household members and other close contacts should be checked and treated if
necessary. If an over-the-counter treatment does not work for you, you can ask
your health care provider for a prescription product.


CAN HEAD LICE BE PREVENTED?

There are steps you can take to prevent the spread of lice. If you already have
lice, besides treatment, you should:

 * Wash your clothes, bedding, and towels with hot water, and dry them using the
   hot cycle of the dryer
 * Soak your combs and brushes in hot water for 5-10 minutes
 * Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where you sat or lay
 * If there are items that you cannot wash, seal them in a plastic bag for two
   weeks

To prevent your children from spreading lice:

 * Teach children to avoid head-to-head contact during play and other activities
 * Teach children not to share clothing and other items that they put on their
   head, such as headphones, hair ties, and helmets
 * If your child has lice, be sure to check the policies at school and/or
   daycare. Your child may not be able to go back until the lice have been
   completely treated.

There is no clear scientific evidence that lice can be suffocated by home
remedies, such as mayonnaise, olive oil, or similar substances. You also should
not use kerosene or gasoline; they are dangerous and flammable.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


START HERE

Collapse Section

 * About Head Lice (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
 * Head Lice (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
 * Head Lice: Overview (American Academy of Dermatology)


PREVENTION AND RISK FACTORS

Expand Section

 * Preventing Lice, Pinworms, and MRSA at the Pool (Centers for Disease Control
   and Prevention)


TREATMENTS AND THERAPIES

Expand Section

 * Treating and Preventing Head Lice (Food and Drug Administration) Also in
   Spanish
 * Treatment of Head Lice (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)


JOURNAL ARTICLES REFERENCES AND ABSTRACTS FROM MEDLINE/PUBMED (NATIONAL LIBRARY
OF MEDICINE)

Expand Section

 * Article: Bartonella quintana detection among arthropods and their hosts: a
   systematic review...
 * Article: Identification and Spatiotemporal Expression of a Putative New GABA
   Receptor Subunit...
 * Article: Body Louse Pathogen Surveillance among Persons Experiencing
   Homelessness, Canada, 2020-2021.
 * Head Lice -- see more articles


FIND AN EXPERT

Expand Section

 * Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
 * National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases


CHILDREN

Expand Section

 * First Aid: Head Lice (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
 * Providing Care for Individuals with Head Lice (Centers for Disease Control
   and Prevention)
 * What Are Head Lice? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish


PATIENT HANDOUTS

Expand Section

 * Head lice (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish


TOPIC IMAGE




MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

 * Head lice


RELATED HEALTH TOPICS

 * Body Lice
 * Parasitic Diseases
 * Pubic Lice


NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

The primary NIH organization for research on Head Lice is the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases


OTHER LANGUAGES

Find health information in languages other than English on Head Lice


DISCLAIMERS

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health
and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health
information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external
links and our quality guidelines.


The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional
medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions
about your health.

Learn how to cite this page


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Last updated February 27, 2019


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