Head Lice
Head lice (Pediculosis) live on the scalp, cannot jump or fly, do not carry disease, and spread from one person to another by head-to-head contact. Anyone can get head lice; it has nothing to do with cleanliness or parenting. Lice do not discriminate.
Itching or scratching of the head does not mean that a person has lice. Some people won’t feel itchy at all, so do not wait to see your child scratching. Checking the head weekly is the only way to find head lice.
Dealing with head lice can be frustrating. Some people are embarrassed that their family has head lice, but it may help to talk with a Public Health Nurse.
For information on detecting head lice, preventing the spread of lice, and getting rid of head lice, please read the booklet:
And check out this video to learn about checking for lice:
Disclaimer: this video comes from the American Academy of Dermatology Association and references service providers in the United States. Eastern Health recommends talking to your Public Health Nurse about questions and concerns related to Head Lice.
Services related to this information:
811 HealthLine (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555