HEAD LICE

WHAT PARENTSNEED TO KNOW

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)They Do Not Cause Disease.They are Just a Nuisance!

HEAD LICE

Can be found on the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes of people

Feed on human blood several times a day and live close to the human scalp

Who can get Head Lice?*Head lice are found worldwide

*Most common in preschool-elementary school aged children and their families

*6 million-12 million infestations each year in the United States!

How Do Lice Spread?HEAD LICE CRAWL

“THEY CAN NOT HOP OR FLY”

Spread by direct head to head contact

• with a person who is infected

* Sharing clothing such as hats, scarves, coats or other personnel items such as

combs, brushes, or towels, used by an infested person

What do Head Lice Look Like

Life Cycle

1. Lice eggs (nits)

2. Nymph(matures into adult 3. AdultIn 9-12 days after hatching)

Signs and Symptoms of Lice

• Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair• Constant itching, caused by allergic

reaction to the bites• Sores on the head caused by scratching• Irritability and difficulty sleeping because

head lice are most active in the dark. So kids are uncomfortable and itchy

Diagnosing Lice Infestation

• Finding a live nymph or louse is the best way to diagnosis a lice infestation • Using a magnifying lens and a fine-tooth comb

may be helpful in finding a live louse • Nits are usually seen within a 1/4 inch of base of

the hair shafts• If no live lice are seen and the nits are more than

a ¼ inch from the scalp, the infestation is probably old and no longer active and does not need to be treated

Usually What You Will Find

Nits attached to the hair shaft and do not brush away with your hand. They are adhered to it!

May Note A Rash On the Back of the Neck

Head Lice TreatmentTalk to your doctor

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding•Before treating children under the

age of two• If a person has a seizure disorder• If the skin of scalp has an infection

Treatments• There are many over-the -counter products to get rid of lice. Talk to your doctor and

pharmacist to see what they recommend

• “ALWAYS” follow the manufactures instructions for use

• Some products need to be repeated in 7-10 days

• This helps eliminate any remaining lice that hatched after the first treatment

• BE A NIT PICKER! Look and remove all visible nits with your fingernails or nit comb. Check daily they are easy to miss

• (picture of nit comb)• Pic

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What To Do at Home?• Although lice do not live long off a host (48 hours) it is

recommended that sheets and bedding be wash

• Clothing worn in the past 48 hours should be washed in hot water and dried on high temperature

• Plush toys and other items can be placed in the drier for 30 minutes on medium-high setting

Fun Facts About Head Lice• Head lice can survive 6 hours under water so frequent washing will

not get rid of or prevent lice infestations.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states a child can remain in school if lice are found until the end of the day avoiding head to head contact.

• The AAP states there is no need for lice screenings at school and children do not need to be nit free to return to school after treatment.

The BEST DEFENSE AGAINST HEAD LICE

IS YOU

Inspect your child’s hair and scalp regularly so you can catch

an infestation early

Helpful Resources

* The Center for Disease Control and Preventionhttp://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/gen_info

* National Pediculosis Association Headlice.org

* Kidshealth .org