Head lice infestation

Lice are transmitted from one head to another when hair comes into contact with another person’s hair, for example when children play with their heads close together. Head lice may present as itching of the scalp. Transmission can also occur through items such as headwear, towels, hair accessories, combs and brushes, but indirect transmission is not very common. Head lice infection is not caused by poor environmental or personal hygiene.

Detection

Head lice infestation is usually detected by finding lice eggs, i.e. nits, attached to the hair. They are usually found behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. The infestation is best detected by combing wet hair according to the instructions below.

• You will need a lice comb, which you can buy from a pharmacy.
• Apply conditioner to wet hair to make it easier to comb, and detangle the hair with a sturdy comb or brush.
• Comb the hair back and make a parting in the middle of the head.
• Start combing from the forehead and proceed strand by strand towards the neck.
• Comb each strand of hair from the roots to the ends.
• Wipe the lice comb on a paper towel after each checked and combed strand and look in bright light to see whether any lice or nits remain on the comb or the paper towel. If necessary, use a magnifying glass.
• Continue in this systematic way until half of the head has been combed and checked. Then move to the other side of the head.

Head lice infestation is confirmed if even one live head louse is found in the hair. Nits, i.e. lice eggs, are also usually a sign of infestation.

Note! Dead nits often remain in the hair for some time despite successful treatment.

Treatment

• All family members should be checked for lice according to the instructions above. Eradication treatment is given only to those who are found to have an infestation. The whole family must be treated only if the person performing the check is not sufficiently certain that they can recognise or find head lice or nits.
• All infected persons are treated at the same time on the same day.
• Several different products for eliminating head lice are available from pharmacies. Products containing dimethicone (suitable for all ages) are the most reliable. Medicated shampoo (for those over 6 months of age, active substance permethrin) can also be used, but head lice have acquired some resistance to them,
• Repeat the eradication treatment after 7–10 days, even if the product instructions do not advise this.
• Nits hatch within 10 days of being laid, so daily combing with a lice comb after the first eradication treatment is important for successful treatment. Lice combing is carried out according to the combing instructions for detecting lice mentioned above. Combing with a lice comb should continue for at least two weeks from the detection of the infestation.
• If a live head louse is still found in the hair after the second treatment, the treatment has failed and the eradication treatment must be repeated and combing with a lice comb continued.
• Nits may still be found after treatment. If they are farther from the scalp (usually about 1 cm away), they are very likely empty or dead eggs and this does not indicate unsuccessful treatment.

Cleaning

Adult head lice do not live without food, i.e. human blood, for more than a few days, so excessive cleaning is not necessary. Ensure that any materials that come into contact with the hair are kept clean.

• Materials that have been in contact with the hair of an infected person (e.g. brushes, combs, towels, headwear, hair accessories) should be removed from use for two days or cleaned daily by immersing them in hot (+60°C) water for at least 30 seconds.
• Bed linen should be changed to clean ones after both treatments. Used bed linen should be washed normally using a 60°C wash programme.
• Cleaning other clothes, furniture, carpets or the interior of a car, etc., is not necessary.
• The home does not need to be treated with insecticide.

Absence from early childhood education or school during infestation

• It is advisable to inform early childhood education, the school and the parents of friends about the infestation without delay so that everyone with infestation can be detected and treated.
• If the infestation is detected in early childhood education or at school, the child does not need to be sent home during the day. Eradication treatment should be carried out as soon as possible after detection.
• The child can attend early childhood education or school the day after treatment has started. Hats and scarves should be kept in the sleeve of the child’s own coat.

More information about head lice

Head lice are 1-4 mm long, flat and greyish wingless insects. Human lice do not infest pets, and lice from pets do not infest humans. Head lice feed on human blood and live for about one month. In the hair, lice move fairly quickly, but outside the human body a louse hardly moves, does not fly or jump and dies from lack of food within a couple of days. Nits, i.e. lice eggs, are translucent greyish, about 1 mm in size, oval and resemble semolina grains. They hatch 10 days after being laid. Living nits are firmly attached to the hair, usually less than 6 mm from the scalp. The empty white eggshell moves farther from the scalp as the hair grows. The position of the egg can therefore indicate whether it is a living egg or a dead or empty eggshell.

Päätäitartunnan itsehoito-ohjeet muilla kielillä

• arabiaksi: (عربية) عدوى قمل الرأس
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• soraniksi: (pdf) تووشبوون بە ئ ەسپێی سەر (زمانی کوردی)
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