Resources for Health Professionals

• Improved hygiene and access to regular changes of clean clothes is the only treatment needed for body lice infestations.
• 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; however, a pediculicide generally is not necessary if hygiene is maintained and items are laundered appropriately at least once a week.
• If you choose to treat, guidelines for the choice of the pediculicide are the same as for head lice.
• Both topical and oral ivermectin have been used successfully to treat lice; however, only topical ivermectin lotion currently is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of lice. Oral ivermectin is not FDA-approved for treatment of lice.

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