Treating head lice

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7401.1256

BMJ 2003;326:1256-1257 (7 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7401.1256

Clinical review

Extracts from "BestTreatments"

Treating head lice

Beth Nash, physicians editor, BestTreatments

BMJ Publishing Group, London WC1H 9JR bnash@bmjgroup.com

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

Description Head lice are parasites that usually infest thescalps of school age children, although adults also get them.Lice attach their eggs to hair shafts near the scalp and layfive to six eggs a day. Lice never willingly leave the head;they stay close to the scalp for food, shelter, warmth, andmoisture. They are most often found behind the ears and at the back of the neck. Hatched eggshells (nits) may be confusedwith dandruff. The mature louse is the size of a sesame seedand has six legs and hook-like claws that grasp the strandof hair tightly, making it difficult to dislodge. It feedson the host's blood every three to six hours, which can causescalp itching, though most cases are asymptomatic. The diagnosisof lice infestation can be made definitively only if livinglice are present.

DR JEREMY BURGESS/SPL

Treatment

Malathion works as well . . . [Full text of this article]

Misconceptions about head lice: what does the research really show?

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