Pediculosis corporis primary prevention

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

The following are steps that can be taken to help prevent and control the spread of body lice:

• Regular bathing and changing into properly laundered clothes at least once a week; laundering infested clothing at least once a week.
• Machine washing and drying infested clothing and bedding using the hot water (at least 130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned OR sealed in a plastic bag and stored for 2 weeks.
• No sharing of clothing, beds, bedding, and towels used by an infested person.
• Fumigation or dusting with chemical insecticides sometimes is necessary to control and prevent the spread of body lice for certain diseases (epidemic typhus).
• Pediculus humanus, corporis treatment^[1]

• A body lice infestation is treated by improving the personal hygiene of the infested person, including assuring a regular (at least weekly) change of clean clothes.
• Clothing, bedding, and towels used by the infested person should be laundered using hot water (at least 130°F) and machine dried using the hot cycle.
• Sometimes the infested person also is treated with a pediculicide Ivermectin Lotion; however, a pediculicide Ivermectin generally is not necessary if hygiene is maintained and items are laundered appropriately at least once a week. A pediculicide Ivermectin should be applied exactly as directed on the bottle or by your physician.