How to Disinfect Head Lice

Thousands of children a year are infected with head lice, making disinfection of head lice a billion-dollar industry. Contracting head lice is easy through infected hats, combs, clothes and bed sheets. Once a child is infected, chances are good that one or more people in the household have been infected as well. With some patience and attention to detail, you can rid your home and family of lice.

Things You'll Need

• Latex gloves
• Magnifying glass
• Bright light
• Nit comb
• Lice shampoo, such as Rid or Nix
• 3 towels

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Instructions

• 1

  Slip on a pair of latex gloves before touching the child's hair. Adjust a bright light over the head to inspect the entire scalp, behind the ears and neck. Use a magnifying glass to see the eggs or small lice more clearly. Identify the presence of head lice by searching for nymphs (young lice), nits (eggs) and lice. Even if only one egg, louse or nymph is present, immediate treatment is recommended.

• 2

  Have the child strip off clothes and place them in a washer or plastic bag. In a bathtub or shower, wash the child's hair with regular shampoo and dry hair until slightly damp. Don't use conditioner or a shampoo/conditioner on the hair. Next, treat the infection with lice shampoo. Follow the instructions on the bottle carefully and leave the solution on the scalp and hair for at least 10 minutes. Rinse as recommended, then towel dry. Put the towel in the plastic bag with the other infected items.

• 3

  When head lice infects a family member, chances are that others in the family may be infected as well. The recommendation is to treat everyone, including the bedclothes, clothing in the hamper, towels and hats. Treat each person accordingly and don't worry about the pets. Animals and humans don't transfer head lice. After treatment, inspect the scalp, neck and areas around the ears. Slow-moving and dead lice may be combed out of the hair using the nit comb. Wash the nit comb thoroughly with the lice shampoo as to not reinfect each family member.

• 4

  Don't wash the hair for at least 2 days after treatment to allow the lice to die. After 7 days, reinspect the scalp, ears and neck for red bumps or moving lice. Retreat the hair if the head lice have not been eradicated. Don't treat a child under the age of 2 years old with medicated shampoo. Use a nit comb and contact the family practitioner for safe alternatives for infants and toddlers.