The symptoms of head lice infestation include:
- Itching due to allergic reaction to the lice bites
- A tickling sensation of something moving in the hair
- Head sores as a result of scratching
- Irritability
Infectious period
(time during which an infected person can infect others)
As long as the eggs or lice are alive. Once hatched, the lice are capable of laying eggs after 10 days and lice live for up to 35 days on the scalp. They do not survive more than 2 days away from a human host.
Treatment of head lice
A number of head lice treatments are available without prescription. Follow directions on the packaging. The two most common head lice treatment methods are:
- ‘wet combing’ involves wetting the hair and scalp liberally with hair conditioner to stun the head lice, then combing the head lice and nits out.
- Pediculicides which are‘chemical’ treatments that kill head lice.
See, How to get rid of head lice using the wet combing technique (PDF 408KB) for what you’ll need and the steps used for both wet combing and chemical treatment options.