Help combat head lice

10 Apr 2025

An easy-to-use guide for parents to fight back against head lice.

What are head lice?

Head lice lifecycle

Eggs (Nits):

• Nits are tiny, oval-shaped eggs laid by adult lice. They are usually attached to the base of the hair shaft, close to the scalp.
• Nits take about 7-10 days to hatch.

Nymphs:

• Once nits hatch, nymphs emerge. These are immature lice that look like smaller versions of adult lice.
• Nymphs mature into adults in about 9-12 days.

Adults:

• Adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed.
• Female lice lay 6-10 eggs per day, and adult lice can live for about 30 days on a person's scalp.

Together we can fight them

Head lice are a normal part of childhood - research carried out at Australian primary schools found that around 21% to 33.7% of children have an active lice infestation at any given time.

As a parent you probably know what a hassle it can be to treat head lice and just how frustrating it can be when your child comes home scratching their head. But, you’ve got the power to stop head lice in their tracks!

By following a simple three step process,  Check-Treat-Complete,  you can fight back.

1. CHECK: How to check for head lice

Regular head checks are key to preventing lice from spreading in families or classrooms. Here's how you can check:

Part the hair:

Use a fine-toothed comb or your fingers to part sections of hair. Start at the scalp and work through small sections at a time.

Look for nits and live lice:

Nits are often easiest to spot near the nape of the neck and behind the ears. They are small, tan or yellowish-white, and can be mistaken for dandruff but will not flake off easily.

Adult lice move quickly but can sometimes be seen crawling on the scalp or hair shafts.

Use a fine-toothed comb:

After wetting the hair, comb through it with a fine-toothed lice comb. Wipe the comb on a white cloth or tissue after each pass to see if any lice or nits are caught.

ONCE A WEEK, TAKE A PEEK

You should check your child’s hair regularly, ideally once a week. If head lice are spotted, take a close look at all the family, including adults.

Notify the school

If you discover that your child has head lice, notify the school and class teacher. This enables the school to quickly notify other families to help prevent the spread.

You may also want to consider asking close friends and family to check as well so they can take action.

2. TREAT: Top 3 methods for treating head lice

If an infestation is found, it’s important to treat it immediately to prevent the lice from spreading. Here are the three most effective methods:

Wet combing with a lice comb and conditioner:

This method of lice removal is preferred by health experts.

Wet combing, or mechanical removal, is a natural method that involves combing through wet hair with a fine-toothed lice comb.

Apply a conditioner to the hair, then section it and comb from the scalp to the ends. Repeat this every 3-4 days for two weeks to remove any lice and nits.

NSW Health says:
“Mechanical removal is the preferred way to detect and treat head lice because it is effective, does not contribute to insecticide resistance in head lice and also presents a low risk of skin irritation.”

Over-the-counter lice shampoos (Pediculicides):

Shampoos containing ingredients like permethrin or pyrethrin are specifically designed to kill lice.

Follow the product instructions carefully. Usually, a second treatment is required 7-10 days later to kill any newly hatched lice.

Prescription medications:

If over-the-counter treatments fail, a doctor may prescribe stronger medications like ivermectin. This is a tablet taken twice, 7 days apart and is highly effective in treating head lice.

3. COMPLETE the job

Once treatment has been applied, more action may be required to ensure the problem is dealt with.

• Check your child’s hair a couple of days after treatment to ensure that all the head lice have been killed
• If necessary reapply your chosen treatment method
• If the pack instructions specify that a second application is required, repeat the treatment seven days after the first application to kill any nymphs (small baby lice) which have hatched since the first treatment was applied
• Continue to check for head lice on a regular, weekly basis -  ONCE A WEEK, TAKE A PEEK

Preventing the spread of head lice

Unfortunately, there is no product available that prevents head lice. Preventative chemical treatment of family members who don't have head lice does absolutely nothing, and can contribute to increasing insecticide resistance.

However, a few simple steps can help prevent the spread of head lice:

• Avoid head-to-head contact: Encourage children to avoid prolonged head-to-head contact.
• Tying up hair: Tying up or braiding long hair, or spiking up short hair with gel, can help reduce transmission between children.
• Regular checks: Check your child's scalp and hair once a week, and encourage older children to put a lice comb through their hair in the shower every time they shampoo, especially after known exposure or during an outbreak.
• Washing clothing and bedding: After treating for lice, you may want to consider washing bedding, hats and clothing in hot water to ensure any surviving lice or nits are eradicated. However, research suggests head lice do not survive for long away from the head, so excessive cleaning is not needed.

For further questions or guidance, contact your family physician or pharmacist.

Regular checks and prompt treatment will help keep head lice under control in your household!

NSW Education “Head Lice Treatment Options"

Head lice treatment options - Information for parents and carers (PDF 112.82 KB)

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Back at school? Here is how to keep kids free of head lice
Head lice may be small but they can cause big worries for parents and carers of school aged children says University of Sydney medical entomologist Dr Cameron Webb.

Head lice: Busting the myths so we can nab those nits
The beginning of the school year inevitably brings a barrage of permission slips, notes and newsletters. Excursions, canteen menus, uniform policies ... and head lice. It's enough to make any parent's scalp crawl.

References

• Head lice in pupils of a primary school in Australia and implications for control