Head Lice

Also called: Pediculosis
Head lice are parasitic wingless insects. They live on people's heads and feed on their blood. An adult is called a louse and is about the size of a sesame seed. The eggs, called nits, are even smaller - almost like a dandruff flake. Lice and nits are easiest to detect at the neckline and behind the ears.
Head lice are extremely contagious. Close contact or sharing personal belongings, such as hats or hairbrushes, puts people at risk. Children ages 3-11 and their families get head lice most often. Personal hygiene has nothing to do with getting head lice.
Symptoms are
Tickling feeling in the hair
Frequent itching
Sores from scratching
The most important step in treating head lice is to treat the person and other family members with medicine to kill the lice.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Head Lice(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Overviews
Head Lice(Nemours Foundation)
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Head Lice - What They Are and How to Eliminate Them(American Academy of Family Physicians)
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Latest News
FDA Approves Benzyl Alcohol Lotion for the Treatment of Head Lice(04/09/2009, Food and Drug Administration)
To Rid Heads of Lice, Wet-Combing May Work Best(03/16/2009, HealthDay)
Diagnosis/Symptoms
Head Lice: Diagnosis(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Treatment
Head Lice: Treatment(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Head Lice: Treatment FAQs(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Head Lice: Treatment: Malathion(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Return to top
Prevention/Screening
Head Lice: Prevention and Control(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
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Head Lice: FAQs(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Return to top
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Head Lice(National Institutes of Health) Return to top
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Article: Accuracy of diagnosis of pediculosis capitis: visual inspection vs wet...
Article: Head louse infestations in Yemen: prevalence and risk factors determination...
Article: Pediculus humanus capitis: an update.
Head Lice -- see more articles Return to top
Medical Encyclopedia
Head Lice Return to top
Organizations
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-borne, and Enteric Diseases, Division of Parasitic Diseases(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Return to top
Children
Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis)(Logical Images)
Head Lice: Information for Parents(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Lice Aren't So Nice(Nemours Foundation)
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