HEAD LICE

by Royal College of General Practitioners

What are Head Lice?

Lice are small insects. When fully grown they are roughly the size of a match head and are usually grey or brown.

They are difficult to detect. Lice like to live on a hair shaft very close to the scalp and their egg cases are glued to the hair.

The eggs are pale brown but when empty, they turn a white colour; these are the "nits". The eggs take 7-10 days to hatch, and the lice take 7-14 days to become mature and lay more eggs.

They feed by sucking blood through the scalp. Lice walk from one head to another during very close contact, they cannot jump, fly or swim.

Lice prefer clean short hair and are NOT a sign of poor hygiene.

How do you detect Head Lice?

You should check all the family by combing wet hair from the roots with a fine tooth comb.

The traditional nit comb is difficult to use and not necessary.

Check the comb for lice between each stroke.

How do you treat Head Lice?

Wet Combing clears head lice over 2 weeks

Wash the hair with an ordinary shampoo.

While the hair is still wet after using lots of hair conditioner, comb through the hair from the roots with a fine tooth comb.

Clear the comb of lice between each stroke.

If you find any lice repeat this routine every 3-4 days for 2 weeks, so that any lice emerging from eggs are removed before they can spread.

You can buy a 'Bug Busting' kit from your pharmacist. The kit includes a comb and information with clear diagrams on this wet combing technique.

Insecticidal Lotions are no longer routinely recommended.

Only treat those members of the family who have lice. Everyone infested should be treated at the same time.

Further Information

Contact Community Hygiene Concern
160 Inderwick Road
London N8 9JT