HEAD LICE

What are Lice?

   The first step in treating lice infestation is understanding what lice are, and how they live.
    Lice are insects that need to feed off the human body to survive.  There are three types of lice:

    Each type of louse has a different shape and lives on a different part of the body.  The pubic louse which has a short crab-shaped body, prefers to live mainly in coarse hair such as pubic hair.  The body louse has a longer body and is found on clothing or on body areas that are in contact with clothing.

    Head lice affect more people than the other types of lice.  They are about as big as a sesame seed and live on the human scalp.  Lice cannot fly or jump from one person to another, they can only crawl.  They are generally passed from child to child on shared combs or hats or other clothing.  Also, they do not live on dogs, cats or any other animals - only on humans.

How to confirm that your child has Head Lice?

    Lice may be hard to locate because they move quickly and shy away from light.  Their eggs (nits) are easier to see.  It helps to use a magnifying glass and natural daylight ( not bright indoor lamps) when looking.  Closely examine the scalp, especially the back of the neck where the hair is thicker, and behind the ears.  Look for small, grayish - white or yellowish - white eggs attached to the hair.  These nits can sometimes be mistaken for dandruff, but they cannot be washed out.

How do lice live?

    Head lice have the same life cycle as the other types of lice.  They hatch from eggs called nits.   The tiny yellowish - white or grayish - white nits are shaped like a tear drop.  They are attached to hair by a glue -like substance produced by the female louse.  This is why nits will not wash out or blow away.  The nits must be combed out or picked out by hand.
    Eggs hatch in about one week.  About seven to ten days after the eggs hatch the lice are fully mature.  The new adult female begins t produce her eggs.  The average female louse lays about three to four eggs a day, producing an average of 90 eggs during her one - month life span.
    Lice live by biting and sucking blood from the human scalp.  They drop their saliva into the scalp would to prevent blood clotting and can feed for 45 seconds every three to four hours if not disturbed.

Symptoms of Lice infestation 

    The most common symptom of lice infestation is itching.  Although this symptom is not always present, itching occurs when lice bite and suck blood from the scalp, and the louse's saliva creates a reaction with the human scalp.
    If you see your child scratching his or her head often, you should check for head lice.  Constant scratching with unclean hands may cause an infection at the scalp sites.  And, in severe cases a child may develop swollen glands in the neck and/or under the arms.

How to get rid of Head Lice

    Fortunately, head lice can be safely, easily and effectively eliminated with a product that requires no prescription and is available at your local pharmacy or supermarket drug section.  All family members who have signs of lice infestation will also require treatment.  Now you are ready t begin a total treatment to kill and remove the head lice as well as keep them from returning or spreading to others.

Clean Personal Items

They can't Jump or Fly but they can spread rapidly

   Here are the ways lice can spread form one child to another:

    Because head lice spread so easily among children, school health officials may require parents to keep infested children at home until they have been treated and are "nit-free".