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  1. Lice…Lice…Lice…all there is to know about head lice. Ministry of Health and Social Services of Quebec. ISBN 2-550-36691-3. July 2003.
  2. RESULTZ® consumer product insert. Nycomed Canada Inc.
  3. Canadian Paediatric Society (Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee). Head lice infestations: A clinical update. Paediatrics & Child Health 2004;9(9):647-651.

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Preventing Lice

There is no sure method to prevent head lice infestations but many resources are available to assist parents with information and advice. The following are prudent steps to take, especially at known high-risk periods for head lice infestation, and in-between times, when notified of a new case in your child's school:

When to Check?

When head lice is identified in the school, daycare or home, the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services recommends that all persons in your household are checked daily.

The back-to-school period is a key time to be on watch. Parents are advised to check scalp and hair at least once a week for Pediculosis during regular bathing and hair washing.

How to Check?

A close and careful examination is required to detect a louse with the naked eye. The following technique is recommended:

  • Examine the head under bright natural light. Head lice may be hard to detect because they move quickly and are very small.
  • Newly laid eggs are almost transparent. It is helpful to examine the head from different angles or light intensity. This is easily achieved by moving around the child/adult while examining.
  • Part the hair and closely examine the scalp, especially the hairline at the nape (lower back) of the neck and behind and above the ears.
  • To find eggs on individual strands of hair, look for small white or yellowish-brown specks that are about the size of a poppy seed. You may see lice moving quickly away from a strong light source during your examination.
  • To tell the difference between eggs and dandruff, try to dislodge a suspected egg from the hair shaft. If it is not easily removed, it is probably a lice egg or nit.

Good Housekeeping

Parents coping with head lice will be pleased to learn that excessive cleaning of personal, school and household items is unnecessary. It is, however, smart to focus washing and disinfecting effort toward items that enjoy prolonged personal contact with infested children/adults.

Hats, bed pillowcases and hair care utensils will require regular cleaning until the household infestation has ended. A hot water wash (66 degrees Celsius), hot dryer for 15-20 minutes, and placing items in a well-sealed plastic bag for two weeks are all reliable methods to kill lice and nits that may be harboured on personal items.