Head lice is the second most common communicable disease among school-aged children, immediately after the common cold, according to MayoClinic.com. The wingless parasites are about the size of a sesame seed and live on a victim's scalp. Nits, the head lice eggs, may appear as dandruff. Symptoms include itching, tickling and sores from scratching, according to MedlinePlus. A diagnosis of head lice does not mean a person has decreased personal hygiene or cleanliness issues. The condition remains extremely contagious, and the main goal of treatment is killing the head lice and preventing the condition from spreading.
Medications
A person infected with head lice should use over-the-counter shampoos containing pyrethrin or permethrin. According to MayoClinic.com, head lice in some geographical locations are resistant to over-the-counter lice shampoos and recommends visiting a medical professional for stronger prescription shampoos and other products. Prescription products include malathion, lindane and benzyl alcohol lotion. Side effects vary for all products, and patients should carefully read the directions and warnings before applying the medications to the scalp. MedlinePlus states that retreatment is often required when using over-the-counter medications because the medicated shampoos do not kill unhatched eggs.
Hair Treatment
Combing the hair with a fine-tooth comb may remove nits and head lice, reports MayoClinic.com. The clinic suggests using the comb every three to four hours for two weeks. Combs should be used on children under the age of 2 to physically remove lice instead of using medicated shampoos. Flea combs used for pets also work well for human hair.
Lifestyle Recommendations
Lice infection often requires head-to-head contact or the sharing of hair utensils. It is rare for a person to become infected in any other way, states MayoClinic.com. Still, the clinic recommends washing all bedding, stuffed animals, clothing and other washable household items in hot water. Items that cannot be cleaned at home may be dry cleaned. An alternative option include sealing items in a plastic bag for two weeks. The home's flooring and furniture should be cleaned to remove loose hairs that contain nits or lice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that lice do not survive long after falling off a person's head.
