Head lice are small, wingless parasitic insects that are found on human scalp and feeding exclusively on human blood. The scientific name for Head lice is Pediculosis and it is caused by parasites which are approximately the size of a grain of rice. A common misconception is that head lice are the same as pubic lice or body lice.

There are a number of treatment modalities that can be employed with varying degrees of success. These methods include chemical treatments, natural products, combs, shaving, hot air, and silicone-based lotions.

Causes

• Sharing of beds and closets, combs, brushes and hair clips with members of family are infected.
• Social contacts and socio-economic status such as school were found to be significant factors in head louse infestation.

Signs and Symptoms

• Frequently scratching the head.
• Found some critters no bigger than a sesame seed on the hair.
• Feel like a tickle, or something crawling on the scalp.

Treatment

• Machine washes all the clothing and bed linens that the infected person touched in hot water. Dry the clothes on the hot cycle for at least 20 minutes.
• Comb daily with a louse-comb to remove the hatching lice.
• Insecticides used for the treatment of head lice include organochlorines (lindane, DDT), organophosphates (malathion), carbamates (carbaryl), pyrethrins (pyrethrum), and pyrethroids.
• Several plant products such as aniseed, coconut, neem and tea tree oils offer promise for new compounds to treat head lice infestation.
• Using a custom-built machine called the LouseBuster blow hot air onto the scalp have been tested for their efficacy to kill lice and eggs.
• Dimethicone is a silicone-based lotion, which after drying coats and smothers the lice causing its death either by suffocation or dehydration.
• Nuvo Method, uses the skin cleanser Cetaphil to suffocate the lice. The method consists of thoroughly coating the scalp with the cleanser, removing the excess lotion from the hair with a comb, and using a blow dryer to dry the lotion to the scalp.
• Shaving the head or cutting the hair extremely short can be used to control lice infestation. Short hair, baldness, or a shaven scalp are generally seen as a preventative measure against lice infestation.
• Washing the hair by using an anti-lice shampoo.