
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Pediculosis corporis primary prevention
Introduction
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.
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
