Public Health Department - Departments

Any time that children gather they are at risk for head lice. They may be exposed to lice in such places as school, preschools, day cares, baby sitters, after school activities and sleep overs. Head lice are most common in children three to 12 years of age, and occur in children of all income levels. Lice cannot hop, fly or jump. They crawl. They are usually spread by direct contact with the head of an infected child. It is probably impossible to totally prevent head lice as young children frequently have close head-to-head contact with each other. They can also be spread by the sharing of hats, combs, pillows or coats hanging next to each other. Children should be taught not to share personal items such as combs, brushes and hats.

Parents should be aware of the signs and symptoms of head lice. Lice make their home in human hair, feeding on blood from the scalp. Lice are very small and hard to see. Most likely it is the nits or eggs, that are found. The nits stick solidly to the hair shaft most often in the back of the head or behind the ears. They are tan to grayish white in color. An infected child may complain of a very itchy scalp, although lice may be there for weeks or months without causing an itch. They can cause reddened, rash like areas. The average number of lice on an infected head is about 10.

Lice an be difficult to treat and unfortunately, many lice have developed resistance to the medication commonly in use. Your doctor may prescribe a treatment or recommend a nonprescription anti-lice shampoo or rinse containing pyrethrins. Follow the instructions carefully. The shampoo should be worked into the hair until a good lather is built up and then rinsed thoroughly. A second application is generally required 7 - 10 days later. Do not treat longer than the manufacturer or your physician recommends. Follow the directions on the box. Fine-toothed combing after shampooing is a simple way to lift out lice and nits. Between treatments with lice shampoo, wash the hair daily with ordinary shampoo, blow dry and fine tooth comb the hair. Do not use lice shampoo daily. Some nits may have to be removed by using your fingernails. Be sure to wash the comb thoroughly or soak it in anti-lice shampoo before anyone else uses it or throw the comb in the garbage.

No healthy child should be excluded from or allowed to miss school because of head lice.

A child with live head lice has likely had the lice for a month or more by the time it is discovered. The child poses little risk to others and if the child does not have a health problem, he or she should remain in class, but discouraged from close direct head contact with others. Head lice screening programs in schools do not have a significant effect on the incidence of head lice.

Lice Control Checklist

Day One

Decide who in the household needs to be treated. Only those with live lice or nits need to be treated with head lice shampoo.

Supplies you will Need:

Lice shampoo for each person (One kit per person is needed.)
Check the allergy warnings on the package
Hair holder or clips
Towel
Paper towel or tissue
Vacuum cleaner and two extra bags
Garbage bags
Clock or timer

Treating the Hair

Read the package directions closely. Some products call for wet hair and some call for dry. Follow the timing directions.

Remove the nits from the hair while hair is damp. Section the hair in 1 inch sections. Comb through each section with the lice comb. If a comb doesn't work, use your fingernails to remove the nits. Use a tissue or paper towel to wipe off comb after each section of hair.

Rinse head after all sections are completed. Throw tissue in the garbage. Put on clean clothes and wash the clothing

Cleaning the Home

Lice combs should be thrown in the garbage bag after using. All brushes and combs should be put in boiling water for 10 minutes. Hair brushes, combs rollers, hair ornaments should be cleaned.

Laundry

Wash in hot water and then dry in clothes dryer on high heat items that have been used in the last two weeks: This includes: clothes, caps, bedding, towels, sleeping bags, pillow, coats. If items cannot be washed then dry them on high for twenty minutes.

Vacuum

Carpets, rugs, mattresses, furniture, care seats, headrests. Discard vacuum bag immediately when done.

Bagging

Items that cannot be laundered, soaked, or vacuumed should be placed in a plastic garbage bag and sealed shut for seven days. This may include: headphones, helmets, stuffed animals.

Notify Others

It is important to notify others where an infected person has spent time so others can look for lice and you don't get them back again. Notify the school your child attends, daycare/baby sitter, friends and relative.

CHILDREN CAN RETURN TO SCHOOL ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED.

Try to remain calm and not get angry. Lice can happen to anyone.

Days 2-14

Wash hair daily with everyday type shampoo, blow dry and fine tooth comb the hair. Check carefully for lice and nits for two weeks. Do not use lice shampoo daily.

If live lice are found retreat and follow the steps on the front of the handout.

Day 7

Retreat hair. Follow all of the cleaning steps. This includes the shampooing, nit picking and household cleaning. Do not use lice shampoo daily.

Lice Treatment