Information For Parents About Head Lice
What Are Head Lice?
Head lice are tiny, wingless, tan/brown insects that live and breed in human hair. They are about the
size of a sesame seed. They survive by piercing the skin to feed on blood.Lice cannot survive away from the head for more than 24-48 hours. Indications of head lice may include the tickling feeling of something moving in the hair, itching, or having sores on the head caused by scratching.
The eggs, called nits, are easier to see than the lice themselves. The nits are yellowish---white, tear drop shaped, and are firmly attached, at an angle to the hair shaft close to the scalp behind the ears and on the back of the neck. Dandruff, lint, and hair spray globules can easily be brushed from hair and can be mistaken for nits. Unlike dandruff, nits are difficult to remove and cannot be brushed away.
Symptoms
People with head lice may not have symptoms, particularly with a first infestation or when an infestation is light. Itching (pruritus) is the most common symptom of head lice infestation. It is caused by an allergic reaction to louse bites. It may take four to six weeks for itching to appear the first time a person has head lice.
Other symptoms may include the following:
- A tickling feeling or a sensation of something moving in the hair
- Irritability and sleeplessness
- Sores on the head caused by scratching, which can sometimes become infected with bacteria normally found on your skin
Although head lice can be a nuisance, they do not transmit disease or pose any health hazards.
Who is at Risk?
- Head lice is most common among preschool and elementary school-age children and their household members and caretakers.
- There is not reliable data on how many people get head lice each year in the United States; however, an estimated 6 – 12 million infestations occur each year in the United States among children 3 – 11 years of age.
- Some studies suggest that girls get head lice more often than boys, probably due to more frequent head-to-head contact.
- Head lice affect all social and economic groups and are not influenced by hair length or frequency of brushing or shampooing.
How Do Lice Spread?
- Lice crawl slowly and cannot crawl long distances.
- They do not fly, hop, or jump.
- They do not live on pets.
- In most cases, head lice are spread by direct head-to-head contact with a person who already has head lice.
- Spread by indirect contact with shared objects such as hats,combs, brushes, scarves, headphones, blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals may also occur, but is less likely.
Prevention
- Teach children not to share combs, brushes, hats, and coats.
- Do not try on other people’s hats (not even in department stores).
- Teach children to hang coats separately – placing hats and scarves inside of coats.
- Check your child’s hair if they frequently scratch their head or complain about itching.
- Getting rid of lice as soon as they are found can prevent them from spreading in your home
Diagnosis: How to Check for Lice and Nits
- The first clue that a child has head lice is frequent scratching of the scalp.
- Misdiagnosis of head lice infestation is common. Finding a live nymph (baby louse) or adult louse on the scalp or hair is the best way to diagnose a head lice infestation.
- Head lice are very small. Bright light or natural daylight and magnified reading glasses might help you see the lice and nits.
- Look through the hair carefully, especially at the back of the neck and behind the ears for nits.
- Nits that are more than 1⁄4 inch from the scalp are either hatched or dead.
- Since head lice shy away from light, you may only see the eggs (nits), small whitish ovals of uniform size (teardrop shape) attached firmly to the hair shaft.
- Look for movement especially at the neck and behind the ears
- If you do not see nymphs or adults, and the only nits found are more than ¼ inch from the scalp, then the infestation is probably old and does not need treatment.
Who Should be Treated?
- Check all family members at the same time for lice and nits
- Treat only people who actually have live lice or nits - The treatment will not prevent people from getting lice
Treatment
- Head lice can be treated at home with either over-the-counter or prescription medications called pediculicides. Several products are available to treat head lice. These are either shampoos or cream rinses.
- Use the lice medicine as directed on the box or label. If you have shoulder-length hair or longer, you might need a second bottle. Pay special attention to how long to leave it on the hair, and how it should be washed out.
- Do not use a combination shampoo/conditioner, or conditioner, before using lice medicine. Do not re–wash the hair for 1 – 2 days after removing the lice medicine.
- Medications are generally safe and effective when used correctly. Some medications may cause itching or a mild burning sensation.
- After the initial treatment, comb or pick out all the nits with a fine tooth nit comb. Your child’s hair should be clean, wet, well combed or brushed to remove tangles before using the comb. A conditioner may be used to lubricate the hair. Divide hair into small sections. Comb through each section until no more lice or eggs are found. Combing should be repeated daily until no lice or nits are seen.
- A second treatment is recommended 7-10 days after the initial treatment.
- Talk to a healthcare provider if you think re-treatment is necessary.
- The CDC does not have scientific evidence that suffocating head lice with mayonnaise, olive oil, margarine, butter, or similar substances is an effective form of treatment.
NOTE: Lice treatment products should NOT be used on pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under the age of 2, or persons who are immune-compromised, unless directed to do so by their healthcare provider.
Household Cleaning
Head lice do not survive long if they fall off a person and cannot feed. Follow these steps to help avoid re–infestation by lice that have recently fallen off the hair or crawled onto clothing or furniture:
- Machine wash and dry clothes, beddings, and items used by the infested person in the two days before treatment. Use hot water (130°F) and high heat drying. If you can’t wash or dry clean items, seal them in a plastic bag for two weeks.
- Soak combs and brushes in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5 – 10 minutes.
- Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay. However, the risk of getting lice by a louse that has fallen onto a rug or carpet or furniture is very small.
- Do not use fumigant sprays or fogs. They can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Readmission to School
Bedford County Public Schools (BCPS) is committed to providing a healthy environment for all students and employees. BCPS protocol for lice management in our schools is guided by current recommendations from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the National Association for School Nurses (NASN).
It is the position of these organizations that the management of Pediculosis (infestation by head lice) should not disrupt the educational process as a head lice infestation is not a communicable disease and poses no health risks. Using these recommendations, BCPS has established the following guidelines:
- Students may return to school the next day after appropriate treatment.
- Students will not be excluded from school attendance due to lice and/or nits. However, parents/guardians will be notified if live lice are present, requiring further treatment.
- The Virginia Department of Health also discourages routine classroom or school-wide screening for lice. Parents who are educated on the diagnosis of lice are encouraged to screen their own children’s heads for lice regularly and if the child is symptomatic (itching).
Resources
CDC: About Head Lice
CDC: Treatment of Head Lice
American Academy of Pediatrics
Virginia Department of Health
NASN Position: Head Lice Management in Schools
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