Lice
- Hair length, hair hygiene, socioeconomic status, and overall personal hygiene have little impact on risk of lice infestation.
- Shaving the head is not generally recommended.
- Children can attend school after their first shampoo treatment.
- Lindane has been discontinued from the Canadian market (Feb 2012) as it is a persistent organic pollutant.
- Wash clothes, bedding, toys that are slept with, and fomites in hot water (>50°C) and dry on hot cycle. If item can not be washed, store in plastic bags for 7 days. Only items that have been in contact with the head of the person with lice within 24-48 hours prior to treatment need to be cleaned. Vacuum mattresses.
- Empty nits are often mistaken for residual live lice. However, for true treatment failure, mechanical removal may be the only option.
Pediculus humanus capitis
Alternative
| Empiric Therapy | Dose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Permethrin 1% creme rinse (Nix®) | Apply, wash off after 10 minutes | Apply on day 1 and day 8 |
| or | ||
| Isopropyl myristate 50% (Resultz®) | Apply, wash off after 10 minutes | Apply on day 1 and day 8 |
| or | ||
| Dimeticone 50% (NYDA®) | Apply, after 30 minutes, comb hair wtih lice comb and allow solution to dry on hair for at least 8 hours and then wash off. | Apply on day 1 and day 8 |
| or | ||
| Pyrethrin 0.33% - piperonyl butoxide 3% shampoo (R&C®) | Apply, wash off after 10 minutes | Apply on day 1 and day 8 |
Treatment failure
| Empiric Therapy | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reapply shampoo treatment making sure to carefully follow product directions. |