Head Lice

Head lice are especially common among school-age children who tend to exchange hats, combs, and other personal items. Head lice know no distinction of families and can be contracted by the cleanest individuals. Fall and spring are the most common seasons for head lice. Our school district is strongly involved in trying to control this problem, but the help of parents is equally important in this effort. The following information is provided to assist you:

What are Lice?

The head louse is a small parasitic insect that infests only human hair, laying eggs on the hair shafts and feeding on the scalp. They do not carry disease. The adult louse is about 3mm long (about the size of a sesame seed), tan, gray, or brown. Lice are very small, flat, wingless insects with stubby antenna and three pairs of legs that end in sharp curved claws. The female lays about four eggs a day on the hair shaft fairly close to the scalp and near the nape of the neck and behind the ears. The eggs or nits are very small, whitish in color and may be mistaken for dandruff. The eggs take about one week to hatch and three weeks to become adult at which time the female starts to lay eggs. Each louse survives about one month as a mature adult.

How are they spread?

Head lice are easily spread from one person to another by:

1. Coming in close contact with an infected person.
2. Wearing infested clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, etc.
3. Using infested combs and brushes.
4. Lying on infested carpets, beds, upholstered furniture or car seats.
5. Head lice survive only by feeding on human blood. Eggs may survive for seven days away from the scalp.

What to look for:

1. Head lice should be suspected when there is intense itching and scratching of the scalp and the back of the neck.
2. A close examination of the scalp will reveal white, brown or gray eggs firmly attached to the hair shaft. The eggs may look like dandruff, but nits cannot be easily removed. Actual lice may be seen as well as many itchy red marks on the scalp. (Natural light or a magnifying glass may help.)

What to do if you find head lice:

• Contact your physician for advice.
• Follow the directions carefully on the recommended lice product. Treatment may need to be repeated in seven days to kill newly hatched lice.
• Remove all dead lice and nits. Several products may be recommended for this including a variety of fine tooth combs. Alternatively, the nits may be effectively removed by running your fingernail down the affected hair shaft.
• Check all family members for lice and nits every day for 2-3 weeks to make sure head lice are gone. Treat only those family members who do have lice.
• Wash sheets and recently worn clothing (from the last 48 hours) in hot water and dry in a hot dryer.
• Soak combs and brushes in hot (130 degrees F) water for 10 minutes (provided they will not be damaged by heat) or soak them for one hour in a 2% lysol solution.
• Vacuum mattresses, rugs, bare floors, car seats and furniture that have been in contact with the affected person in the 24-48 hours before treatment.
• Any other potentially infected fabric item which cannot be soaked, washed or vacuumed (such as favortite plush toys) should be sealed tightly in a plastic bag for 14 days.
• Head lice is not transmitted from animals to humans, domestic pets should not be treated.
• When you find a case of lice, tell others! Call parents with whom your child may have had close contact, school and daycares.

Return to School:

Anytime your child has been sent home from school due to lice, or if you have found lice on your child and treated him/her at home independently, the child must check in with the school nurse, or another health care provider, before returning to school. The school nurse will check for lice and viable nits. A return to school form must be completed upon the students return, please see the school nurse.

How to keep lice from coming back:

1. Completely change undergarments, clothes and nightwear daily. Wash clothes in hot water (130 degrees F) and detergent or tumble in dryer on high heat.
2. Vacuum upholstered rugs, furniture and floors frequently.
3. Change bedding frequently.
4. Tell children not to use any borrowed combs, brushes or wear anyone else's clothes, hats, or scarves.

Head lice continue to be one of the most prevalent communicable diseases among children. Outbreaks are possible whenever and wherever children gather. Screen your child regularly and notify us immediately if head lice or thier nits are detected. (We welcome the opportunity to teach those of you who do not know how to check your child for head lice.) Working together helps us protect all of the children, including your own. Thank you for your cooperation.