A 43-year-old member asked:
Can you tell me about head lice. please help !?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 47 years experience
Human only parasite: You acquire head lice after exposure to an infected persons living lice. This may be by sharing head ware, scarfs, combs etc. Or during close encounters with the lice in bedding, clothing etc. It is not passed by animals or non human carriers.Lice mature within 10 days and begin laying eggs attached to hair. They feed on human blood, cause itching, but do not carry diseases.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 35-year-old member asked:
What do you suggest if my child has head lice please help?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 26 years experience
Treatment of lice : requires accurate identification of nits & / or lice. A pediculicide is usually used- OTC like Nix (permethrin) or RID or prescription meds like lindane or malathion. Work carefully through hair & remove individual nits. Purchase a special lice nit comb to aid you. Check for nits & remove as seen over the next 7 to 10 days. If there are nits after 7 to 10 days – a 2nd pediculicide tx may be needed.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Lexington, KY
A 60-year-old male asked:
Have lice after shaven head help?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Christopher Cirinoanswered
Infectious Disease 24 years experience
Lice or scabies or?: Although scabies usually doesn't affect the scalp, if it were, it would be behind ears and at base of head. Shaving your hair off would usually have treat pediculosis (lice). Have your doctor evaluate you. Treat you scalp/body with a scabicide such as permethrin as directed, or perhaps ivermectin. Scabies is caused by a skin-burrowing mite, so would not be affected by shaving. Could be fungal.
646 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Can you give me advice with head lice infestation, please help?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 26 years experience
Treat it now!: Tx of lice requires accurate identification of nits ; / or lice. A pediculicide is usually used- otc like nix (permethrin) or rid or prescription meds like lindane or malathion. Work carefully through hair ; remove individual nits. Purchase a special lice nit comb to aid you. Check for nits ; remove as seen over the next 7 to 10 days. If there are nits after 7 to 10 days – a 2nd pediculicide tx may be needed.
4.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
How can I tell if I have head lice are all killed?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 47 years experience
New activity: You can be infested with juvenile lice before they start laying eggs & not recognize the activity.If you have removed the egg casings & killed the lice, you must wait out the next 2 weeks to see if you have got them all.Any that were missed or hatching new would take up to 10 days to mature & lay recognizable eggs.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Mar 3, 2014
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