Head lice are tiny parasitic insects that can infest the skin. They live on people's heads and feed on their blood. They can cause intense itching.

There are two other types of lice: body lice and pubic lice. This health sheet will focus on head lice.

Head lice are very contagious. They spread from person to person by close body contact, and by shared clothes and other personal items. These can include things such as coats, hats, hairbrushes, and combs.

Head lice are seen mostly in childcare settings and among school-aged children. It doesn't matter how clean your child's hair or your home may be. It doesn't matter where children and families live, play, or work. Any child can get head lice.

The most common symptom of head lice is itching. The itching can be very bad, especially at night. Lice or their eggs (nits) can usually be seen on the hair, behind the ears, or on the neck. They can even be seen in the eyebrows and eyelashes.

The eggs laid by lice can usually be seen. This makes it easy for your child's doctor to diagnose.

Treatment will depend on your child's symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.

Lice are treatable. Treatment will include applying a medicated cream rinse or shampoo to your child's hair. Many head lice medicines are available over the counter (OTC). Your child's doctor may prescribe a medicine if the OTC medicines didn't work for your child.

Talk with your doctor about which rinse or shampoo would be best for your child. Do not use two forms of treatment at the same time. If one treatment doesn't work, use a different one or call your doctor for advice.

In addition to the medicated cream rinse or shampoo, treatment may also include:

• Removing nits from wet hair with a fine-tooth comb.
• Soaking combs and brushes in hot water with the shampoo for at least 15 minutes.
• Checking all other household members closely to see if anyone else needs to be treated.
• Washing all bedding and clothing in hot water (130°F or 54°C) or sealing items that cannot be washed in a plastic bag for 2 weeks.

Children can return to school or daycare the day after their first treatment for head lice.

You can help prevent head lice by:

• Not having close physical contact with someone who has lice.
• Encouraging your child not to share hats, combs, brushes, towels, or other personal items.
• Washing bedsheets, blankets, and other personal items to prevent lice from infesting other people.

Some lice treatments are available over the counter. But if you are unsure that your child has lice, or if a home treatment doesn't work, talk with your child's doctor.

• Head lice are tiny parasitic insects that can infest the skin on a person's scalp.
• Lice are highly contagious, spreading from person to person by close body contact and by shared clothes and other personal items.
• The eggs laid by lice can usually be seen. This makes it easy for your child's doctor to diagnose.
• Lice are treatable. Some medicines are available over the counter. but talk with your child's doctor if you're unsure of the diagnosis.
• To prevent lice from infesting other people in the home, sheets, blankets, and other personal items need to be washed.

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child's doctor:

• Know the reason for the visit and what you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
• At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your doctor gives you for your child.
• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects are.
• Ask if your child's condition can be treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
• If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose of that visit.
• Know how you can contact your child's doctor after office hours. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice, especially after office hours or on weekends.