Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
In order to make a diagnosis of head lice, the doctor must see a louse or a nit on the scalp. Occasionally, what is called a Wood's lamp is used to look for lice and nits. During this procedure, the doctor shines a black light at the scalp, and the insects and eggs appear as yellow-green fluorescent spots.
If the doctor confirms that your child does have lice and you have not yet treated the infestation, he/she will likely recommend over-the-counter medications as described in the Self-Care Guidelines section. If you have already used over-the-counter medications and you still see moving lice, your doctor will probably give you a prescription-strength medication. These include the following:
- Malathion lotion 0.5% (Ovide®) – Kills lice and some eggs and can be used only on children aged older than 6 years. Malathion can irritate the skin and is flammable. It can be absorbed into the skin, especially if it is left on the skin for a long time, so follow the application directions exactly.
- Lindane shampoo 1% – This can be toxic and is absorbed into the blood stream and, therefore, is not used much anymore it. This medication is used only when other medications have failed.
- Ivermectin pills – This oral medication is passed to the lice when they eat human blood. Again, this is used only when other medicines have failed.
Self-Care Guidelines
