How to Treat Lice in Children

Lice are small insects that lay eggs and make their homes on the human scalp. There, they can cause itchiness and discomfort, although they can also be present with no symptoms. Since they spread easily in crowded areas and through shared clothing, lice are common in schools. There is a social stigma about lice, as they are often thought to be associated with poor hygiene and the spread of disease; this is not true. Children with lice should still be treated to relieve their discomfort and prevent the lice from being passed on to others.

Things You'll Need

• Insecticide shampoo

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Instructions

• 1

  Check which insecticide your anti-lice shampoo uses. It will normally be either pyrethrin, permethrin or lindane. Of the three, lindane is the only toxic one and should therefore be avoided if the child in question is between infancy and the age of 2.

• 2

  Consult the directions on the shampoo package. Different products will have different leave-in times depending on the concentration and type of insecticide used.

• 3

  Rinse the child's hair with water, lather his hair with the shampoo, then rinse it out with cold water. This is best done over a sink instead of in the shower or bath, as this will avoid having the child's body come in contact with the insecticide.

• 4

  Shampoo the child's hair again with insecticide shampoo seven to 10 days after the first treatment.

• 5

  Check the scalp of the child regularly looking for lice (which are small, black and about the size of a sesame seed) or nits (eggs that are yellow-gray ovals about the size of a sand grain). If you detect signs of their presence, treat the child again with anti-lice shampoo.

• 6

  Supplement or replace shampoo treatments with isopropyl myristate/cyclomethicon. This is a chemical that can be applied to dry scalps and rinsed out after 10 minutes; it should only be used in children older than 4.

• 7

  Wash any hats or pillowcases that may have touched the child's head in hot water, then dry them in a hot dryer for at least 15 minutes to kill lice and nits. Anything that cannot be washed or dried can be sealed in an airtight plastic bag for two weeks. This will kill the lice through suffocation.