What is head lice?
The head louse is a tiny, wingless parasitic insect that lives among human hairs and feeds on tiny
amounts of blood drawn from the scalp, which causes skin irritations.
Transmission:
- It is easily transmitted, especially among school children.
- Through contact with someone who already has head lice.
- Sharing tools, bed, towels, blankets, hats and clothes ... etc...)
Symptoms:
- A tickling feeling of something moving in the hair.
- Itching.
- Sores on the head (caused by scratching).
- Scalp irritability and difficulty sleeping.
- Swollen Lymph Nodes.
- Infected persons may not show symptoms, mainly in early infection.
Risk Factor:- Disregard to personal hygienic practices.
- Close contact with the infected person.
Treatment:
Use special shampoos and medicated creams with 1% Permethrin rinse.
Prevention:
- Guide children not to share hair combs or bed pillows with others.
- Tell them not to share hats.
- Wash bed sheets, pillows and blankets with hot water or dry on high heat in the dryer.
Common errors:
- Using insecticides on head scalp.
- Using pesticide.
- Using gasoline.
- Preventing clots and strokes.
Frequently asked questions:
- How do you get head lice?
- Head lice is common among children. Also, anyone at any age can get head lice.
- Do lice help the hair grow longer?
- What are head lice problems?
- Itching in the head scalp.
- How do you know you get head lice?
- It is difficult to see head lice, but you know by washing combing your hair.
- Is there a preventive medicine for head lice?
- No, you can only detect lice by washing and combing your hair.
- What about using insecticides?
- Insecticides are risky and fatal to children.
- Do head lice indicate poor personal hygienic practices?
- No, yet poor personal hygienic practices can help spread head lice.
- Do lice fly?
- What about using pesticides to treat head lice?
- You cannot use pesticides to treat head lice, they could lead to unfavorable consequences.
- Should I shave my hair to get rid of head lice?
- For boys, you better shave your hair.
- Does using different shampoos cause head lice?
- Should a head lice patient be isolated?
- Yes, till you get rid of head lice.
Health Enhancement and Health Education General Department
For more information, please email us on:
Hpromotion@moh.gov.sa