This week I was asked to give a presentation to a group of parent about lice. I researched and found some really good info all parents should know. Its good to be prepared in the chance your kids bring home little unwanted friends. Quick treatment and knowledge of what to do will save you a lot of time and decrease the chance of your entire family getting lice! Happy reading…
What are Lice?
pic from erwinadr.blogspot.com
Lice are small insects which spend their entire lives living on humans.
Who Gets Lice?
Head lice are not choosy about who they infest… ANYONE can get them! They are human parasites and live on human blood…therefore animals don’t spread human lice. Having lice is not a sign of poor hygiene habits.
How Can I Get Lice?
Lice spread easily by direct contact with the head or hair of infested person or by sharing…scarves, hats, clothes, bed sheets, blankets, pillows, combs, hair ties, or brushes with a person who has lice. Lice do not jump or fly; they only crawl.
How Do I Check For Lice?
Head lice can be hard to see. You need to look closely. Use disposable gloves and look at the person’s head under a bright light. A magnifying glass can help. Part the hair all the way down to the scalp in very small sections, looking both for moving lice and eggs (nits). Look at the entire head this way. Treatment is recommended if even one egg is found.
Lice cause scalp itching. They are small (less than 1/8 inch long), tan-colored insects, alive and moving. Look for lice or their eggs (nits) on hair or when a hair strand falls out of the scalp. The eggs (nits) are gray-white specks glued to the hair. Look closely around the top of the neck and ears, the most common locations for eggs.
How Do I Get Rid Of Lice?
Use a medication prescribed by your doctor, or an over-the-counter product from the drug store. (Follow the directions as listed on the product.) After a treatment, you will need to get rid of nits or eggs with a fine tooth comb. The only way to confirm a treatment has been successful is to do a manual check for live lice and nits. A second treatment will be needed if live lice are found.
pic from http://www.headlice.org/
Treatments
*never use a hair dryer while medication is on the head!!!
Infections from Lice
Some people will develop a secondary skin infection from scratching. Antihistamines can help relieve the itching. Call your health care provider if symptoms continue after home treatment, or if you develop areas of red, tender skin, which could mean a possible infection.
Do I Need To Disinfect My House To Get Rid Of Lice?
Thorough vacuuming of floors, furniture, and cars is recommended. It picks up any hairs lice or nits may be attached to. Insecticide sprays are not recommended. 
Clean personal items by any of the following methods:
- Washing in hot water and soap in a washing machine
- Putting in a hot clothing dryer for 20 minutes
- Dry cleaning
- Storing in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks
- Boiling combs, brushes, curlers, etc. for ten minutes or soaking in 2% Lysol* and water for one hour
- Freezing for 12 hours.
- Lice treatment products contain chemicals that are potentially hazardous to health and should not be used “just in case,” or for prevention.
- All family members should have their hair checked with a nit comb to see if nit or lice are present before treating.
- Never put a lice treatment on a child and send them to bed with a cap on. Follow treatment instructions.
