Head Lice

According to the web site Head Lice, lice eggs, also called nits, are yellowish-white and oval shaped. They are firmly attached to the scalp, and can be found anywhere in the hair, the nape of the neck, or around the ears. Once hatched, head lice are about a millimeter in length. They start life clear in color but quickly turn brown or reddish. Lice do not have hind legs and therefore cannot hop or jump; they also do not have wings.

Head lice hold onto the scalp with hook-like claws and require human blood to survive. Lice can survive on a human scalp for at least thirty days. Each female louse lays 3-5 eggs a day; the eggs hatch within a week and the new lice begin laying their own eggs within another week. Lice bites cause the scalp to be itchy and inflamed, and they are also highly contagious, spreading from head to head in a matter of minutes.

Removing Head Lice

First, if a parent doubts that their child has head lice, a diagnosis can be confirmed through their physician. A physician should also be consulted prior to using any head lice pesticides for lice removal. Pesticides should not be used on or around children under age two, pregnant or nursing women, or anyone with allergies, asthma, epilepsy, or other pre-existing medical conditions. If a head lice pesticide is used for lice removal, follow the instructions carefully, and do not use more than the directed amount.

With or without a pesticide, lice should be manually removed frequently with a specially designed lice comb. Parents should go through each section of the hair from the scalp to the tip to remove both eggs and head lice. They should work under a good light and use a wet paper towel to periodically remove debris from the comb.

Other advice for removing head lice include:

• Do not use conditioner on a child’s hair before applying lice medication, and do not wash the child’s hair for two days after treatment
• Vacuum frequently and wash all bedding
• Machine wash all exposed clothes in hot water
• Check everyone in the home frequently when one member has lice, but only treat infected persons
• Call a physician if the child complains of itchiness that does not go away or if a rash appears on the scalp; he or she may need an oral antibiotic
• Soak all hair care items in hot water or rubbing alcohol
• Do not use a pest control company, as lice only thrive on humans and do not survive long independently
• Home remedies like vinegar, petroleum jelly, olive oil and others have not been proven to kill lice or eggs
• The lice should be completely gone within two weeks of treatment

For School Staff

All teachers, school nurses, and other staff should review the following regarding head lice:

• Frequently review the school’s policy regarding head lice
• Learn how to identify head lice and lice eggs
• Provide parents with written policy and educational literature on the prevention, detection, and treatment of head lice
• Send notifications home when children are to be screened for lice
• Encourage parents to screen for lice at home
• Promptly inform all parents when a case of head lice is found
• Encourage a non-chemical treatment approach
• Be prepared to answer any questions
• Watch for frequent head scratching in the classroom

Overview

Head lice generally affect most children at least once during their school career. The best way to approach head lice is through prevention and early detection. Parents who are diligent about checking their child’s scalp minimize the chance that the infestation will spread to the rest of the family or the child’s classroom. Once detected, parents can decide on an approach with their physician, including either a manual removal of lice alone, or in combination with chemical removal. Lastly, children should not be made to feel ashamed about head lice – it is quite common and means nothing about their character or cleanliness.

Lice

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