What is Lice?

Lice is a parasitic infection affecting the scalp, body, and pubic area with tiny insects (lice) that latch onto the skin and proceed to feed on human blood. These insects will seek areas of skin covered by hair, as another aspect of their life cycle is that the female lice produce a sticky substance which allows them to attach eggs to the base of hair shafts where they emerge from the follicle. 

Head lice, body lice, and pubic lice (crabs) are all capable of being spread through direct and indirect contact and will move between hosts quite readily. This makes lice a very contagious infection. 

What Causes Lice?

Coming into contact with the insects or their eggs is how humans get lice. That is the only explanation for what causes lice, and this contact can be made through closely stored belongs in shared storage spaces, contact with furniture that has lice present on it, sharing grooming items or items of clothing between friends or family members, or by sexual contact with instances of pubic lice.

Prompt and effective treatment is very important as lice are known to spread quickly in contained areas where people are in close proximity to each other. School environments with young children is one of the most prominent and regularly occurring examples of this.

Lice Symptoms

The most common lice symptoms are intense itching in the affected areas, a tickling sensation when hair on the head is moved, visual spotting of lice seen at the nape of the neck or over the ears, nits (lice eggs) seen on hair shafts and the frontal hairline, sores on the neck, scalp, or shoulders, or bite marks that are just outside affected areas covered by hair.

Lice Treatment

The standard approach for  lice treatment is use of a medicated cream or shampoo that contains Permethrin, and the active ingredient in these products is toxic to lice and will kill them and their eggs / larvae quickly. Another suggestion from your doctor may be to use an oral lice killer medication like Stromectol, and it should be equally effective to get rid of lice on the head or body. For a severe and stubborn head lice infestation Natroba may be an option, and it is another powerful lice treatment medication. 

Special machines that use hot air to dehydrate head lice may also be a possibility for young children who are unable to use parasiticide medications. However, these machines are only operated in a clinical environment and by a trained individual.