Facts of Lice
 
Head lice are so easily spread that anyone can get them. 6 to 12 million: people will get lice each year. Most of these will be children. There is no shamed because your child has head lice. Head lice are not known to transmit disease, they are just itching and annoyance.

What Are Lice?
Lice are tiny wingless bugs the size of a small seed. Nits (lice eggs) are tiny, yellowish eggs glued to the hairs by a type of insect super glue. Lice have pointed heads and three pairs of claw-like legs. Lice are grayish in color but can be red/brown when feeding. Nits are found on the hairs of the head, mainly behind the ears and on back of the neck.

The Life of a Louse
When a female louse crawls on a person's head she begins laying eggs (nits). The female louse will start laying as many as 6 eggs per day. The female louse will live on a person for about 20-30 days. A single female louse can lay as many as 300 eggs in her lifetime. Nits hatch in 7-10 days. They become adults in two weeks. Lice can live for 2 to 4 days off the head at room temperature.

How Are Lice Spread?
Lice are spread by direct head-to-head touching. They do not fly or jump, but they crawl. Children at play have closer contact than adults, so they're more likely to get lice. Head lice can be spread by sharing:

• Personal articles (clothing, combs, headbands, hats, and or scarves).
• Towels, linens, pillows, carpeting, and naptime blankets.
• Stuffed toys, dolls and cloth toys.
• Earphones for a personal radio.
• Lockers or hanging clothes together on coat hooks.
• School uniforms, costumes, or gym clothing.

Are Lice Bugging Your Kids?
Lice are hard to see. Itching on the head, along with scratch marks that may look like a rash are a sign of head lice. With good light or a magnifying glass you can see them. The nits look like dandruff, but can't be removed easily. Nits are cemented to the hair shafts, and can be moved up and down along the hair but usually need to be removed with special combs or pulled off using your fingernails.
How Can Head Lice Be Prevented?

Teach children how to avoid them. Tell your child not to borrow or use other children's things. Do not share:

• combs
• brushes
• hats
• headgear
• jackets
• earphones

Students should have their own coat hook or locker at school and in gym. Do not share beds and personal items at home if at all possible. Check weekly for nits and lice if there has been lice at school or friends have had it.

Nit Picking
While all of the lice shampoos kill lice, some may not kill the eggs. The eggs then hatch later and cause the same problem over again. That's why it is important that you comb out the hair with a fine toothed comb. Use one that comes in the lice shampoo kit, a clean flea comb, or pick them out by hand to remove all of the nits.

Remedies
Home remedies do little to get rid of lice. There are several brands of lice shampoo that you can buy at the store, as well as brands that need a prescription. Talk with your own medical provider or the county health department for assistance. Shampooing the hair alone will not get rid of lice! You must also remove the nits, and clean the areas of the louse where the lice may be present.
Cutting your child's hair or regular shampoo does little to treat lice. Clothing, bedding and household items must be cleaned to kill and remove all of the lice. Other family members need to be checked for lice, and treated if necessary.

Your Daily Checklist

DAY ONE:
1. Apply medicated Shampoo (and conditioner, if needed.)

2. Check all family members for lice or eggs. Treat if needed.

A 50- 50 mixture vinegar and water rinse will help in nit removal. Remove dead lice and eggs with lice comb or pick out with fingernails.

3. Wash clothing, (especially hats and caps) towels, sheets, etc., in hot water (1308). Dry on "high" for at least 20 minutes. Things that can't be washed and dried such as stuffed animals, coats, pillows, and blankets should be:

• Placed in a hot dryer for 20 minutes,
• Put in a sealed plastic bag and place in the freezer overnight, or
• Left in a cool, dry place for 2 weeks

4. Vacuum carpet, mattresses and upholstery as well as floor. Remove vacuum bag and dispose outside when done.

5. Soak all combs and brushes in hot water (1308) with small amount of insecticide or bleach added for 10 minutes to kill any lice.

Animals do not carry human lice, so family pets do not need to be treated.

6. Vacuum daily.

7. Repeat shampoo if recommended based on brand differences, usually day 7 or http://schools.dickinsonisd.org/page/10. Treat anyone if new lice are seen.

8. Remove all lice or eggs that are seen.

NEXT 2 TO 3 WEEKS:
Keep checking all family members for new lice or eggs.

Head lice can happen to anyone. With everyone working together we can reduce the incidence of lice infestations in our children. Early in the fall a positive lice prevention program will be initiated, educating students, staff and parents about head lice.


KIDS

• Do not share combs and brushes
• Do not trade hats, hair ribbons, coats or sweaters
• Do not share or trade any other clothes
• Do bathe and shampoo your hair often
• Do wash your combs and brushes often

PARENTS

• Do inspect your child’s head often – especially before and after a group activity such as a slumber party or camp.
• Do notify all contacts if you should discover that your child has head lice.

TREATMENT
1. Everyone in the family with lice or nits must be treated with a special lice shampoo.
Check with your physician or pharmacist for an effective product. Follow package
directions carefully. Call your doctor if you are pregnant, nursing, or all