Treatment of human head lice

The treatment of human head lice is a process that has been debated and studied for centuries. However, the number of cases of human louse infestations (or pediculosis) has increased worldwide since the mid-1960s, reaching hundreds of millions annually. There is no product or method which assures 100% destruction of the eggs and hatched lice after a single treatment. However, 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.

General recommendations

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that treatment for head lice should never be initiated unless there is a clear diagnosis for head lice, because all treatments have some potential side effects.

Because eggs hatch 6–9 days after oviposition, if a pediculicide is used, treatment is recommended to be repeated at least once and this after 10 days, when all lice have hatched from the eggs.Between the two treatments, i.e., days 2–9, the person will still be infested with lice, which hatch from eggs not killed by the anti-louse product. Therefore, with some products a third treatment on day 5 is recommended. Between the treatments, it is advised to wet the hair and comb daily with a louse-comb to remove the hatching...
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