Pediculosis

What is it?

Pediculosis (puh-DIK-u-lo-sus) is a lice infestation (n-fes-TAY-shun) of the hairy areas on the scalp, genital area, or body. Eyebrows, eyelashes, chest hair, or underarm hair may also be infested. Lice are tiny bugs that bite into the skin and suck blood to live and grow. Lice are hard to see. Many times only the eggs are found. Special lice cream, shampoo, or lotion may be used to treat the lice.

There are three stages in the life of a louse (lice): nit (egg), nymph, and adult. Adult lice lay nits and glue them onto the hair strands or clothing fibers. Nits look like tiny pieces of dandruff that cannot be brushed off of the hair. Nymphs hatch from nits in 7 to 10 days. They are clear in color and feed on scalp blood. Nymphs quickly grow into adults. Adult lice can be tan or gray or a darker color when filled with blood.

Causes:

People who have lice spread it to others. Head lice can spread very quickly. It is a very common problem for children in day care centers and schools. A person may spread head or body lice by sharing hats, combs, brushes, clothes, bed linens, or headphones. A person with pubic lice can infest another person by having sex with them. Lice cannot be spread from a pet to a person.

Signs and Symptoms:

You may have one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

Itching.

Red bite marks. Head lice bites may be seen on the scalp, especially behind the ears or back of the neck. Body lice bites are found most often in soft skin folds like armpits, groin area, around the trunk, or waist. Pubic lice bites may be seen in the genital area.

Skin sores or infections from scratching.

Ticklish feeling of something crawling in your hair.

Swollen glands around the neck, head or groin area.

Bed linens or clothing look unusually dirty.

Matted, bad-smelling scalp and hair.

Irritable (bad mood) or fussy.

Care:

Ask your caregiver about lice medicine to kill the lice.

There are many lice lotions, creams, and shampoos at the local grocery or drug store. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or elderly, call your caregiver before trying to treat the lice. Call your caregiver for help in choosing the right lice treatment if you have allergies, asthma, or skin problems. Also call your caregiver if you have seizures or other health problems.

Do not give a head lice medicine to children under 2 years old. Instead, use regular shampoo and pick nits and live lice off the scalp and hair. Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other oil products to treat lice.

Read and follow lice medicine or caregiver directions carefully. Throw away all lice medicine that you do not use. Do not use old lice medicine.

Tell anyone who has been close to you to be checked for lice.

This includes friends, classmates, family, or sex partners. They will need to check for lice and be treated if they have it.

Do not share personal items.

This includes combs and brushes, clothes, wigs, and hats.

Clean clothes and bedding.

Wash all washable items like sheets, clothes, and towels using the hot water cycle. Dry on the hot cycle for at least 20 minutes. Dry clean or iron other items. If you have head lice, pack unwashable items in airtight plastic bags for at least 2 weeks. If you have body lice or pubic lice, pack items in bags for at least 1 month. These items may include oversized bedding and clothing that is not easily washed or dry-cleaned.

Disinfect all hair items.

Soak combs, brushes, and all hair items in rubbing alcohol, an antiseptic or anti-lice shampoo for one hour. You may also put them in boiling water for at least 10 minutes.

Vacuum.

This includes carpets, rugs, carseats, and furniture.