HEAD LICE
Just mentioning head lice often makes us itch. Head lice can be a problem especially if your child goes to preschool or elementary school. Every parent dreads a call from school asking you to pick up your child because they have lice. Just mentioning head lice often makes us itch. The following are frequently asked questions discussing what head lice, treatment, and prevention:
WHAT ARE HEAD LICE?
Head lice are tiny little insects that are usually found in the hair. They live close to the scalp and feed on a small amount of blood from the scalp. They live up to 30 days in the hair and lay about six eggs, called nits, a day.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE HEAD LICE
The adult is about the size of a sesame seed. They are tan to grayish white in color and have six legs. Often you do not see the actual louse, instead you see the nits, or eggs. The adult louse lays the egg at the base of the hair shaft. They are very small and are white or yellowish in color. Nits can be confused with dandruff however, the difference is that dandruff can be shaken or brushed off, nits cannot.
WHO GETS HEAD LICE?
Head lice can be found all over the United States. Any child in a childcare or school setting is at risk of contracting head lice. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: although reliable data on how many people in the United States get head lice each year are not available, an estimated 6 million to 12 million infestations occur each year in the United States among children 3 to 11 years of age. In the United States, infestation with head lice is much less common among African-Americans than among persons of other races, possibly because the claws of the of the head louse found most frequently in the United States are better adapted for grasping the shape and width of the hair shaft of other races.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS MY CHILD HAS HEAD LICE?
Usually the first sign is the child will start itching and scratching their head. This is because they feel a tickling feeling as the insect move through the hair. Lice are most active at night, so your child may have difficulty sleep because they are itching. Head lice are often found behind the ears or near in the back of the hear near the neckline. Your child may have sores on their head from scratching. Infections can occur from bacteria on the scalp.
ARE HEAD LICE DANGEROUS?
Head lice do not spread disease. However, because they can be extremely itchy, children tend to scratch vigorously. This can cause the scalp to become inflamed and lead to infection.
ARE HEAD LICE CONTAGIOUS?
Head lice are extremely contagious. Lice do not fly, however the are spread quickly from head to head contact. Particularly by sharing clothing like hats, scarves, coats, combs, towels, and stuffed animals. Laying down on a couch, bed or pillow or even the carpet where and infested person had contact can spread lice. Lice are NOT spread by your pets nor do your pets get lice from you.
HOW DO YOU TREAT HEAD LICE?
There are over-the-counter medications that you can use. For children it is always best to check with your pediatrician for their recommendation on which medicated shampoo you should use. It is also very important that all household members should be checked and anyone with evidence of lice should be treated. The drugs used to treat lice are insecticides and can be dangerous if they are misused or overused. Use only as directed on the package or by you doctor. Many of the lice medications also come with a fine tooth comb that can be used to remove the nits from the hair shaft.
According the Center for Disease Control: hats, scarves, pillow cases, bedding, clothing, and towels worn or used by the infested person in the 2-day period just before treatment is started can be machine washed and dried using the hot water and hot air cycles because lice and eggs are killed by exposure for 5 minutes to temperatures greater than 53.5°C (128.3°F). Items that cannot be laundered may be dry-cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks. Items such as hats, grooming aids, and towels that come in contact with the hair of an infested person should not be shared. Vacuuming furniture and floors can remove an infested person's hairs that might have viable nits attached.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT HEAD LICE?
As we have seen, how often you bath or wash a child’s hair can have no effect on whether or not your child get head lice. However, there are some things you can do to prevent your child from getting lice.
• Teach your child to never borrow combs, brushes, head bands, or hats from other children.
• Conduct head checks. Every few days examine your child’s head. Part the hair and look near the scalp on the hair shaft for any evidence of nits. Especially if you know that head lice is present in your child’s class at school.
RESOURCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov