Body lice may spread via close contact between infested individuals and animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Body lice usually live on clothing and use skin only as a breeding ground and a source of nourishment. These parasites are dangerous because they can carry disease and spread them when they feed on blood. There are a number of ways to treat body lice infestations.
Hot Baths
Bathing in hot water is one way to treat body lice, notes Drugs.com. It is important to use copious amounts of soap in order to wash away the lice and lice eggs, called nits, on the body. Rinsing with hot water after rigorously soaping the body thoroughly is important as well.
Laundering Infested Cloth Items and Clothing at High Temperature
Properly laundering clothing and other cloth items that make regular contact with the skin, such as bed sheets, blankets, towels, is an effective way of treating body lice, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The items must be washed using water that is a minimum of 130 degrees Fahrenheit, explains the New York Times Health Guide. The clothes and cloth items must then be dried using high heat to ensure the lice are killed.
Lice-killing Shampoos, Lotions or Body Creams
There are various lice-killing body creams, lotions, and shampoos available over-the-counter that are effective ways of treating body lice, notes MayoClinic.com. Shampoos that have pyrethrin or permethrin, for example, are particularly effective against body lice.
Benzyl Alcohol
Benzyl alcohol is a prescription lotion that may be used to treat body lice, notes MayoClinic.com. The lotion must be applied to the infested area for about 10 minutes and then rinsed afterwards. The treatment is usually repeated a week later. Due to the possible side effects of benzyl alcohol, it is not generally recommended for very young children.
Malathion
Malathion is a prescription lice treatment medication that may be used to treat body lice, explains MayoClinic.com. This medication is quite flammable, so must be used away from things that could ignite it. Moreover, malathion is not generally recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing without clearance from a qualified medical professional.
Pediculicide
A pediculicide is a kind of lice-killing medicine that may be used to treat body lice, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Various pediculicides are available and have varying mechanisms of action. A pediculicide should be applied exactly as directed on the bottle or by the prescribing physician.
Good Hygiene
Good hygiene habits are effective in treating lice infestations and in preventing future ones, note MayoClinic.com and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Good hygiene habits include bathing and changing clothes regularly, as well as changing towels and bed coverings weekly.
