Acute, life-threatening symptoms? Call 144 directly.
Condition
Head lice: recognising them and doing it right
- eggs: small, white-grey specks stuck firmly to the hair
- scratch marks on the scalp
Orientation
How urgent is it?
When in doubt, always choose the higher level.
Assessment and treatment on site. You are welcome without an appointment, too.
Book an appointmentor simply walk in
- inflamed, weeping or purulent scratch marks
- fever
- swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- no success despite consistent treatment
If your symptoms are acute and life-threatening, call 144. aprioris is not an emergency department.
Overview
What you should know
An itchy scalp, and the question of whether it is lice.
Head lice live only on the human scalp and spread through direct hair-to-hair contact. They are no sign of poor hygiene. What matters is recognising them reliably and being consistent, so that they do not come back.
Who should be told
School or nursery should hear about a case, so that contacts can be checked. That is not a question of blame; it is the only way to break the chain.
One address for your concern
Book an appointment or come by during opening hours. And if you are unsure whether we are the right address: come anyway; we will work it out with you.
Symptoms
Typical signs
Typical signs
- intense itching, especially at the nape of the neck, the temples and behind the ears
- eggs: small, white-grey specks stuck firmly to the hair
- live lice: one to three millimetres, grey-brown, most visible at the hairline
- scratch marks on the scalp
What happens
What happens at aprioris
Our aim: to resolve your concern directly on site. Assessment, treatment and, where needed, a prescription or certificate. If specialist care is needed, we refer you on.
We listen to your concern, examine you carefully and put the findings in context. Then we discuss what happens next with you. We also show you what to watch for when combing, and talk through what to do in the household and for contacts.
Every case is reviewed and signed off by a physician, either during your visit or shortly after. Anything that needs specialist care, we refer on, prioritised by urgency and with a written report. aprioris does not dispense medication itself.
Treatment
Treatment overview
What you can do yourself
- comb the hair carefully with a fine-toothed lice comb after each treatment
- repeat the treatment after eight to ten days, to catch newly hatched lice
- wash brushes, combs and tight-fitting headwear at 60 degrees, or seal them in a bag for two days
- check contacts in the household
Services
Related services
Locations
Where we treat this
Available at 10 locations, with an appointment or as a walk-in.
AmriswilBadenBern ChristoffelHerisauLucerne NeustadtWinterthur MarktgasseZurich AlbisriederplatzZurich LimmatplatzZurich MorgentalZurich Paradeplatz
Booking
Book an appointment online
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an appointment for this?
Not necessarily. You are welcome without booking during opening hours. If you book an appointment, you are seen at the agreed time. You can book online or by calling the practice.
What does the assessment cost?
aprioris is a medical practice licensed by the canton. Services covered by mandatory health insurance are billed accordingly. Your deductible and co-payment apply, as in any medical practice. Preventive services are paid for privately; prices are shown with each service.
What should I bring?
Your health insurance card. If you take medication, a current medication list or the packaging helps. For anything to do with vaccination, please bring your vaccination record.