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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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Infectious Diseases |
LICE08/04/1999 |
What is the most effective treatment for lice? Is there any sure way to remove nits? How long can the nits remain dormant? Can pets carry dormant nits until a human host is available?
Three species of lice (Pediculus) infest humans: head lice, body lice, and pubic lice. The life cycles of these lice are fundamentally the same, although they infest different parts of the body. Adult females lay eggs (also called nits), which are glued to the base of the host`s hair in the case of head lice and pubic lice, and are attached to clothing in the case of body lice. Eggs hatch in 5 to 10 days, and the nymphs that emerge resemble miniature adults, undergoing 3 molts over the 15 days to adulthood. No stage can survive for long periods of time away from the host. The nits of body lice can survive the longest: up to 30 days away from the host (usually in clothing).Lice are host-specific. Dog lice will not parasitize humans, nor will human lice parasitize dogs. Permethrin 1% (Nix), lindane 1% (Kwell), and pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide (Rid) are highly effective for treatment of pediculosis, with the caveat that none of these treatments will kill the eggs. To prevent reinfection when the nits hatch, it is necessary to use a louse comb after treatment to remove the nits. Enzymatic egg removers are also available. The surest way to remove all the nits is to shave the hair off; fortunately, this is seldom necessary.
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Lisa A Haglund, MD Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Internal Medicine College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
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