Head lice (Pediculus humanus hapitus) are a very common problem, especially with children who are in school. In fact, while some 5-7% of people suffer from head lice, the most common age to get this affliction is when you are 6-12 years old.

Head lice are small wingless insects about 2-3 mm long, and are only found on the head and eyebrows of humans. They can only be transmitted from person to person through head-to-head contact, or through the sharing of personal items like hats, brushes, or headphones.

Head lice cannot fly or jump. Lice actually prefer clean hair and skin; if you are infected, it is probably not because you have poor hygeine. Head lice do not spread disease.

How do you know you may be infected with head lice? Here are three common signs:
  • Nits: these are lice eggs or empty egg cases. They are oval-shaped, and very difficult to see in normal circumstances. (In fact, they can be difficult to distinguish from dandruff). Eggs are attached to the hair shafts, and take about a week to hatch; the empty egg case remains attached after hatching.

  • Nymphs: these are baby lice, and look just like adult lice except they're smaller. They feed on blood from the scalp, and take about ten days to become mature adults.

  • Adults: adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed, with a dark grey or tan colour and six legs. The legs end in claws which help the louse hold on to hair shafts. Lice feed on blood, and live about 30 days.
Once you've been infected with lice, every female louse will begin to mate and lay eggs ... about 8 to 10 per day. She attaches them to the base of the hairs on your head with glue.

Eggs are about the size of the head of a pin, and are always close to the scalp. After the eggs hatch, the empty egg case turns bright white. These are more easily seen, and may be the first sign that your head has become a mini ecosystem!

Fortunately, lice don't pose a major health hazard, and are easy to get rid of.

Myths About Head Lice:
  • Head lice can jump from one person's head to another: False
    Lice can only walk ... they can't jump (like fleas), or fly or swim. Their tight grip on your hair strands also means they can't even be blown from one person to another.

  • Head lice drown in water: False
    Lice, like many small insects, can survive quite a while underwater.

  • If you have head lice you must have dirty hair: False
    Head lice will attach themselves to any hair, regardless of how long or short it is, or how clean or dirty. Having head lice is not necessarily a sign of poor personal hygiene.

When to Suspect You've Been Infected by Head Lice:
  • You have a very itchy scalp ... and red patches from where you've been scratching
  • Nits and/or eggs may be visible
  • You can actually see lice attached to the base of hairs
  • Black specks are visible on your bedding or light-coloured clothes (these are dead or injured lice)
However, you may not have any obvious symptoms at all.


Lice can transfer from person to person through close head contact or the sharing of personal head gear. This means that if a person in your family is known to have lice, everyone (including adults) should be checked. The child's school should also be notified, as students often share things.

Checking for Lice:
You can check for lice by parting the hair in many places and looking for them, although this isn't a very effective way to remove them, since many will move and hide. If you do a visual check, make sure you have lots of light; a magnifying glass will also help.

To get rid of a lice infestation you should:
  • Wash your hair with an ordinary shampoo and conditioner.
  • Use a wide-toothed comb to untangle your hair.
  • While your hair is still wet, comb it with a fine-toothed comb. You can purchase a special lice comb for this purpose. Comb the hair behind the ears and at the back of the neck as well, because lice prefer these areas. This should remove the majority of the lice and eggs. They will be visible in the comb.
  • Rinse your hair thoroughly.
Repeating the above on a weekly basis for several weeks is an effective way to get rid of lice. Note that the shampoo will not kill them; you get rid of them by repeatedly combing them out.
You can also obtain a topical treatment from a pharmacist (without a prescription) or your local Public Health Service, that will kill lice. A popular Canadian product is called NIX. Make sure you follow the directions carefully. You will still have to comb out the nits and dead lice.

While lice cannot survive long when off a human head, they can live long enough to crawl back onto your head if dislodged into bedclothes. When you begin treatment to get rid of them from your head, you should also wash any items that may harbour lice or eggs. Wash all clothes, towels, and bedding used by those who are infected, in hot water, and put them in the dryer at the hottest setting. Combs and brushes should be soaked overnight in a head lice treatment solution.

You can prevent future lice infestations by encouraging your children not to share combs, brushes, or hats.

For additional information on head lice, contact your local Public Health Nurse or Community Health Representative.


Resources



Some material adapted from the Peace Country Health pamphlet "Facts About Head Lice"
HTML, graphics & design by Bill Willis 2023