HEAD LICE
What are head lice?
Teeny, tiny bugs (like sesame seeds) that nest in your hair. Many
people associate lice with uncleanliness or poor personal hygiene
but this is not true.
How can I tell I have lice?
Children with lice often complain of an “itchy” head. Lice are
difficult to spot; it is easier to look for their eggs called nits,
which are the size of small sesame seeds and may appear milky-white on dark hair, or brown on lighter colors of hair. Nits are firmly
attached to the base of the hair shaft. They will not flake off
and should not be confused with dandruff.
Where do lice come from?
Although these insects cannot hop, jump, or fly….they crawl really
fast from one head to another via head to head contact. They
can also crawl from a comb or brush, or a hat or jacket that has
been shared.
How do I treat Lice?
Wash your child’s hair with a lice shampoo from the pharmacy, and follow the directions carefully on the lice treatment package. In order to remove all the eggs, it is also highly recommended you use a lice comb. All eggs must be removed to break thelice cycle. You should also treat all people living in the same household since transmission within the same living quarters is very high.
Use a second treatment in 7-10 days to assure getting any nits that might have hatched in that time. This is a very important step because up to 30% of lice eggs may survive standard pesticide based lice treatments.
How do I treat my house?
Wash sheets, pillows and linens in hot water, vacuum all floors (including cars)throw out the vacuum cleaner bag after use.
Wash clothes and jackets in hot water and dry on the hottest setting for at least 20 minutes. Be sure to soak all combs, brushes and other hair items in hot water (130 degrees) or rubbing alcohol for 10 minutes. You can also run these items through the dishwasher.
To kill nits, items may also be placed in the freezer (in a sealed
double bag) for 24 hours or in the microwave for 15 seconds. All stuffed animals should be either washed as above, or bagged up in a plastic bag, closed tightly, and left for a few weeks before retuning them to your child’s room.
Check and Recheck
Check the scalp and hair of all family members every day for 10
days.
-Examine head under bright light.
-Part the hair and look carefully at the scalp, behind the ears and
the nape of the neck.
-Lice will quickly move away from light.
Prevention Tips
- Remember to never share brushes, combs, hats, sweaters, jackets, pillows or sleeping gear (at sleepovers !)
-Tea Tree oil may be added to your shampoo. This puts enough oil
in the shampoo to prevent the lice from attaching to the hair
shaft.
-Use gel in your child’s hair. This also prevents the lice from
attaching to the hair shaft.
-Keep long hair pulled back in a pony tail.
-There is a product called Lice Shield that repels head lice. They
have a daily shampoo or a leave in spray.
Please continue to do your part to prevent the further spread by
examining your child’s hair on a regular basis. Should lice be
found in your child’s hair, please give me a call and let me know.
Lorraine Cano, RN, BSN
ShadowForestElementary School Nurse