How can head lice be treated and prevented?

Lice are small parasites that infect humans exclusively. They live on the head and feed on blood from the scalp, which can cause severe itching.

Head lice can affect anyone, regardless of their level of hygiene.

They do not jump or fly, but move by crawling. They are mainly transmitted through direct head-to-head contact and primarily affect children.

To get rid of head lice, both the child and those around them must be treated properly.

Spotting head lice

Frequent itching of the scalp is usually the first sign of a lice infestation.  However, spotting lice and their eggs, known as nits, is not always straightforward. It is necessary to inspect the hair carefully, strand by strand, to detect them.

Lice are greyish in colour and measure between 1.8 and 3.0 mm. Nits, on the other hand, are easier to spot as they are white and stick to the hair; unlike dandruff, they are difficult to remove.

Getting rid of lice

If you have spotted lice or nits on your child, follow these steps:

Treat the affected person and those around them

• Consult your paediatrician, doctor or pharmacist to obtain a lice treatment.
• Buy a lice comb.
• Follow the instructions for the anti-lice product carefully and ensure you stick to the recommended application time.
• Anti-lice products do not kill nits effectively. This is why it is essential to repeat the treatment after about a week to eliminate any newly hatched lice.

Check whether the anti-lice treatment is effective

24 hours after applying the anti-lice product, check the effectiveness of the treatment. If any live lice are present, you have two options:

• The product was not applied correctly. In this case, repeat the treatment;
• The lice are resistant to the product used. In this case, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Preventing the spread

Lice do not jump or fly. They are transmitted through direct contact or by sharing clothing (hats, scarves, caps, sheets, pillowcases, etc.) or personal items (combs, brushes, hair clips, etc.).

It is therefore essential to treat your surroundings as well.

Remember to wash hats, scarves, soft toys, pillows, bed linen, car seats, etc. at 60°C.

If washing is not possible, seal the items in a plastic bag or place them in the freezer for a few days.

What to do

• If you notice head lice on your child, inform their teacher or the person in charge at your child’s childcare centre (after-school club, nursery, etc.) so that they can implement the recommended measures. In particular, they will need to alert other parents to the presence of head lice at the school or childcare centre so that they too can treat their children if necessary.

• Check your child’s head, as well as those of other family members, regularly.

If you have any difficulties, contact your child’s school health and welfare team.