Head Lice

Anyone can get head lice. It is most common among pre-school children attending childcare, elementary school children, and the household members of children who have lice. 

Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.

Head lice spread easily through:

• Direct head-to-head contact with someone who has lice. 
• Sharing personal items that have been used by a person who has lice. For example, hats, combs, hairbrushes, hair accessories, headphones, towels, or bedding.

To help stop the spread of lice:

• Let your child’s school and childcare know if your child has lice.
• Tell close contacts so they can check for lice.
• Teach your child to avoid head-to-head contact with others and to avoid sharing personal items. 
• Public Health does not require reporting of a head lice infestation. 

Look carefully through your child’s hair for live lice and nits. Head lice move very fast and are hard to see. 

To check for head lice and nits: 

• Use a bright light, magnifying glass, and a fine-tooth comb. 
• Look for live lice on the scalp and nits close to the scalp in sections.  
• Look behind the ears, along the hairline, and at the back of the neck.
• Look for open sores and scabs on the head.
• If you are unsure, ask a health care provider to check. 
• Check everyone in the household for head lice too. Only treat those who have head lice. 

Talk to a pharmacist or health care provider about the best product to use for your child. Some treatment products for head lice are covered by OHIP+ for eligible children. 

If you learn that your child has head lice: 

• Only treat your child and family members who have live lice. 
• Use the head lice product exactly as directed. Most treatments need two applications, 7 to 10 days apart to kill all the eggs. 
• Every day, remove all head lice and nits from the hair: 
  • Comb out lice and nits daily under a bright light. 
  • Separate hair into small sections and work on a few strands at a time. 
  • Use a lice comb and/or your fingernails to remove the lice/nits. 
  • Place the lice/nits in a sealed bag and throw away.
• Only use plain shampoo between treatments. Avoid using conditioners and other hair products (gels, hairspray, oils, etc.) for the length of treatment. 
• Keep combing and checking your child’s hair daily, for at least 2 weeks after the last treatment. 
• Home remedies and natural products are not recommended. 

Treat your home

• Wash all personal care items, bedding, and towels that have been in contact with the hair. 
  • Wash all combs, brushes, and hair accessories in hot water for at least 15 minutes.
  • Wash all bedding and towels in hot water and dry in a hot dryer for at least 15 minutes. 
• Seal non-washable items in an airtight plastic bag for 14 days. 
• No extra cleaning of your home is needed.

Before using a lice product, call your health care provider if: 

• Your child is under 2 years old
• Anyone is allergic to chrysanthemums, ragweed, synthetic pyrethroids, etc.
• Anyone has a seizure disorder
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding 
• Lice are found on eyebrows, eyelashes, or a beard
• The skin of the scalp is broken or infected
• Head lice keep coming back despite treatment

• Check your child’s head once a week with a fine-toothed comb, and after school breaks, sleepovers, or vacations. 
• Teach your child to avoid head-to-head contact and not to share personal items. Personal items include combs, hairbrushes, hair accessories, hats, helmets, or headphones.
• Public health reporting is not required, but informing school staff or classmates’ parents can help prevent further spread.