Prevention
Head lice
can affect people of any income or social
level. It is very difficult to prevent lice from spreading among children
because they commonly share hats, combs, and other items. Frequently examining
the scalps of your school-age children may help you discover and treat lice
before they spread to the rest of your family. Avoiding prolonged close contact
with a person who has lice will also reduce your risk.
Pubic lice are spread primarily among people who have
many sex partners. Reducing the number of sex partners you have may help reduce
your risk of getting pubic lice.
Body lice may be prevented by bathing regularly and
changing clothes daily. Body lice live on clothing, not on the body. Washing
clothing in hot water [130°F (54.44°C) or higher] will usually kill adult lice and prevent eggs from
hatching. Body lice that are present on the skin usually go away on their own
with daily bathing and wearing clothes that are not contaminated. Medicines to
kill body lice are usually not necessary.
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