Dealing with Head Lice

Head lice infestation or Pediculosis is a common contagious disease of childhood caused by a parasitic insect called Pediculus humanus capitis that feeds on human blood to survive. School children obliviously pass on the disease to their friends by head-to-head contact while playing. The parasite also travels from the scalp of one person to another by sharing combs, headphones, bed linen, towels, hats, brushes, etc. Itching is the most common symptom of pediculosis which is caused by an allergic reaction to the louse saliva. A person infested with head lice will have tiny lice eggs called nits at the base of the hair shaft nearest to the scalp which should not be misinterpreted as dandruff.

Treatment & Prevention

• The wet combing or bug-busting method is an effective home remedy to dispel the lice and the nits from the scalp. Wash your hair with shampoo and soak in hair conditioner. With the help of a fine toothed nit comb you can remove the lice and nits from your hair. But this must be repeated for a few days until the scalp is clear from lice.


• Lice medications like pediculicide can be applied on the hair to destroy the parasites. The chemicals and insecticides prescribed in the form of lotions might be toxic and so strictly adhere to the label instructions on the product while using them.


• Vinegar is considered as a natural home remedy for head louse. Just wash your hair with vinegar and comb off the dead particles. Coconut oil and tea tree oil are other useful oils to get rid of head lice.


• Apply mayonnaise on the scalp, gently massage your head to choke out the lice infestation and comb off the dead particles.


• Cropping your hair will not help alleviate pediculosis because the lice and the nits notoriously cling to the base of the hair.


• Proper hygiene and cleanliness will safeguard our children form lice infestation. Clothing, bed linens and towels must be disinfected by washing them in hot water. Soak the combs and brushes in hot water and wash them with soap to disinfect them.