Prevention
Head lice 
can affect people of any
income or social level. It is very difficult to prevent lice from spreading
among children because they commonly share hats, combs, and other items.
Frequently examining the scalps of your school-age children may help you
discover and treat lice before they spread to the rest of your family. Avoiding
prolonged close contact with a person who has lice will also reduce your
risk.
Pubic lice are spread primarily among people who have
many sex partners. Reducing the number of sex partners you have may help reduce
your risk of getting pubic lice.
Body lice may be
prevented by bathing regularly and changing clothes daily. Body lice live on
clothing, not on the body. Washing clothing in hot water [130°F (54.44°C) or higher] will usually kill
adult lice and prevent eggs from hatching. Body lice that are on the skin
usually go away on their own with daily bathing and wearing clothes that are
not contaminated. Medicines to kill body lice are usually not necessary.
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