Head Lice

1. Head Lice

2. What are Head Lice? • Properly called Pediculushumanuscapitis, head lice are parasitic insects that are small, wingless, and grayish-tan. • Head lice only live in humans, and anyone can get them, even with good health habits and hair washing. • Head lice is very common.

3. What do head lice look like?Egg/nit • Nits are head lice eggs. They are very small, about the size of a knot in thread, hard to see, and are often confused for dandruff or hair spray droplets. • Nits are laid by the adult female at the base of the hair shaft 1/4th inch from the scalp. • They are oval and usually yellow to white. • Nits take about 1 week to hatch.

4. What do head lice look like?Nymph • The nit hatches into a baby louse called a nymph. • It looks like an adult head louse, but is smaller. • Nymphs mature into adults about 7 days after hatching. • To live, the nymph must feed on blood.

5. What do head lice look like?Adult • They are about the size of a sesame seed, has six legs, and is tan to grayish-white. • Adult lice can vary in color depending on the person’s hair color. • Females, which are usually larger than males, lay eggs. • Adult lice can live up to 30 days. • If the louse falls off a person, it dies within 2 days.

6. What are the symptoms? • Gray bugs in hair • Nits (white eggs) attached to hair follicles • Itchy scalp • Scalp rash

7. Who is at risk? • ANYONE who comes close contact (especially head to head contact) with someone who already has head lice is at greatest risk. • You might also be at risk if you share clothing (such as hats, scarves, coats) or other personal items (brushes or towels) that belong to an infested person. • Preschool, elementary-age children, girls, and women have higher risks. • Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.

8. treatment • Start with over the counter treatment as directed on dry hair. Ask a pharmacist questions if necessary.

9. TreatmentCombing/Pulling out nits • This is the most important step in getting rid of head lice. • No lice treatment kills 100% of nits, so all nits must be removed to prevent them from hatching. If one nit is left, the head lice problem could continue. • Mixture of half vinegar and half rubbing alcohol applied to the hair can help to loosen the nits prior to combing. As you remove the nits, put them in alcohol. • Good light is necessity! Sunlight or fluorescent lights are best. Nits will be missed in regular light. • Metal nit combs work better than plastic ones. Combing out nits is not the same as combing hair with a regular comb. Divide hair into small sections to comb through carefully.

10. Treatment continued… • Lice may live up to 3 days and nits up to 3 weeks. To prevent infection, vacuum child’s mattress daily, soak combs and brushes for 1hr in a solution made from anti lice shampoo, and wash all bed linens and clothes in hot water and place in dryer. • Vacuum carpet, cloth furniture, and seats of cars. Throw bag away. • Place all stuffed animals or items with cloth in an airtight bag for 2 weeks. • If lice or nits are seen on the eyelashes, apply Vaseline to the eyelashes twice a day for one week. NO anti lice shampoo should be used near the eyes or eyelashes.

11. Home remedy • Cover head and hair with mineral oil for 30mins. • Wash hair with Dawn dish soap until mineral oil is removed. • Apply white vinegar to cover all scalp and hair for another 30mins. Protect eyes. • Rinse vinegar with warm water thoroughly and remove all nits under bright light. • Treatment can be repeated as needed.

12. How long will my child be contagious? • Your child may return to school when ALL nits are removed. • Have your child checked by a school nurse to make sure. • Retreatment is recommended in 7 to 10 days to remove any remaining nits or lice. • Check the heads of other family members. • If anyone has scalp sores, rashes or itching, they should be treated with the shampoo also.

13. When should I call the doctor? • Call your doctor if: - Itching prevents sleep - The scalp rash clears, then returns - The scalp rash lasts more than one week. - Living lice or eggs appear in the hair after treatment. - The sores spread or look infected. - Your child displays signs of infection such as increased swelling, redness, pain, drainage, bad smell from sores, and fever.

14. How can head lice be prevented? • Hair spray or any other medicated sprays will NOT prevent head lice. • Head lice are mainly spread by head to head contact. • Head lice can also be spread indirectly… • Teach your child not to share combs, brushes, coats or hats!

15. Questions? • If you have any questions, contact your school nurse. • You can also contact the following if you need help treating head lice or if you have questions: - Lice Ladies of Atlanta (1-888-924-5423) - Family Lice Removal (1-877-488-8401) - Natural Head Lice Removal (1-866-355-5423) - Head Hunters (678-240-0042)

16. Useful websites • http://www.lice911.com/page.php?page=prevention • http://www.headlice.org/ • http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/parasitic/lice.html • http://www.cdc.gov/lice/head/factsheet.html