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Head Lice

Photo: http://nlsd.k12.oh.us/

What are head lice?
What are the symptoms?
How are they prevented?
How long do head lice live?
How do they spread?
What is the treatment?

What are head lice?
Head lice are tiny, crawling bugs the size of a small seed. They cannot fly or jump. Nits (lice eggs) are tiny, about the size of a small grain of rice, and are glued to the hairs by a type of insect "super glue". Nits are found anywhere on the hairs of the head, but mainly behind the ears and back of the head and neck.
Photo: www.headlice.org
Lice are very small and hard to see, but with good light or a magnifying glass it is possible to locate them. The nits may look like dandruff, but are cemented to the hair shafts and cannot be removed easily.

What are the symptoms?

Lice nits on hair.
  • Itching on the head.
  • Scratch marks that may look like a rash.
  • There may be no symptoms at all.

How are they prevented?
  • Teach children how to avoid head lice. Lice are passed through head-to-head contact
  • Do not share combs, brushes, hats, head gear, jackets, or ear phones.
  • Students should, if possible, have their own coat hook, or locker at school and in the gym.
  • Do not share beds and personal items at home during the infestation.
  • Check your child's head weekly as a precautionary measure.
  • Check your child's head daily for nits and lice if there has been a recent outbreak.

Photo: www.headlice.org

How long do head lice live?
The female louse will live on a person for up to 30 days, and can live off the head at room temperature for 1-2 days. The louse can lay as many as 300 eggs (nits) in her lifetime, which hatch in 7-10 days. This is why it is important to remove all nits.

How do they spread?
Head lice are spread by head-to-head contact and by sharing:
  • Personal Items such as clothing, combs, head bands, hats scarves, or helmets.
  • Towels, linens, pillows, or blankets.
  • Stuffed, cloth toys.
  • Lockers or hanging clothes together on coat hooks.

What is the treatment?
Check all household members for head lice and treat if needed following the directions provided. Immediately notify all people who have recently been in contact with the exposed person.
There are three steps that must be done at the same time:
  1. Personal hygiene.
  2. Household maintenance.
  3. Getting rid of all the nits.

Personal Hygiene

  • Apply head lice treatment shampoo over a sink (not in a tub or a shower). Read and follow the instruction on the product carefully (some treatments require shampoo to be placed on dry hair).
  • Use a clean towel to dry hair.Use good lighting.
  • While still wet, comb hair completely and divide into small sections.
  • Remove lice and eggs (nits) with a metal lice comb then check carefully and remove any remaining eggs by hand.

Household Maintenance

  • Wash bedding, linens, recently worn clothes, and stuffed toys.
  • Dry on hot settings.
  • Vacuum rugs, furniture, mattresses, cars, etc.
  • Dry clean unwashables or put in a sealed, plastic bag for two weeks, or put in a freezer for 48 hours, or put in a hot dryer for thirty minutes.
  • Wash all combs and brushes in hot soapy water.
  • Lice sprays are not recommended.

Do NOT

  • Use kerosene, gasoline, or animal pesticides.
  • Use lice products more often than recommended.
  • Fumigate (the use of flea bombs or commercial sprays). It is not effective and can cause serious health problems.
  • Shave heads.
  • Treat pets. Human head lice do not live on animals, only people.
  • Use Lindane or Kwell - it is not recommended by the Oregon State Health Division because of its potential toxicity.
Contact your Health Care Provider BEFORE treatment if the person infected is:
  • Pregnant or breast-feeding.
  • Under the age of two.
  • Has allergies, asthma, or other medical conditions.
  • Has used a lice product more than once in the past seven days.