From the
Panther Press
Information for Parents
Head
Lice
Recognition
Treatment
Prevention
Getting head lice is not as bad as you may think. It
is not a sign of uncleanliness, or poor health habits.
Head lice can occur at any age, and to either sex. It
doesn't just affect "other people"...it could happen to
you or your family. So it's wise to learn how to
recognize head lice infestation, how to treat it, and
how to prevent it from coming back.
Lousology 101 - The Biology of Head Lice
Nits
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Are small yellowish-white oval shaped eggs that are
glued on at an angle to the side of a hair shaft with an
extremely strong substance
Must be laid by live lice
Take 7 to 10 days to hatch
Hatched nymphs feed immediately- at the first nymph
stage, nymphs are very small and look like specks of
pepper
Once hatched, nymphs take 7 to 10 days to reach
maturity and begin laying nits
Lice will vary in colour from off-white to brown and are
slightly smaller than a sesame seed
They are always the same shape but will grow slightly in size
Most commonly found above/behind the ears along the hair line at the neck and on the
crown of the head
Please Note: Nit removal becomes the only objective marker for schools to determine a
completed lice elimination process.
Head Louse
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is a small wingless insect that feeds on human blood and needs human blood in order to
survive
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it is clear in colour when hatched then quickly develops a reddish/brown colour after feeding
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about the size of a sesame seed
has 6 legs equipped with claws to grasp the hair
it is a very active, fast crawling insect but does not jump or fly
it cannot live on pets
lives approximately 30 days on its human host and may lay
up to 100 eggs
it will live anywhere from 12 to 48 hours when off its human host
Treating Head Lice–The Sooner the Better
Step #1--Use Insecticidal Shampoo
This is required to kill the live lice. Make sure to follow package instructions and do not dilute
the shampoo.
Step #2–Remove the Nits
To facilitate removal of nits, use a 50:50 solution of mineral oil and vinegar. Massage the solution
into the hair and cover for one hour with a shower cap. Shampoo out with regular shampoo. Use
regular comb, to comb out tangles and then use special nit comb to remove nits by handling hair
one section at a time. Not all nits are removed with the nit comb. To ensure all removal of nits,
they may have to be picked one at a time from the hair shaft manually.
Tips for Manual Removal
Work under a good light. Strong, natural sunlight appears to be the most effective. Divide the hair
into sections and fasten off the hair that is not being worked on. Remove individual nits individually
with thumb and forefinger by pulling along the hair shaft.
Please Note:
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Nits can be laid anywhere close to the scalp to a little further along the hair shaft.
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If additional nits are found 3 to 5 days later, this may signal live lice on the head.
Another thorough manual search is recommended.
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Daily screening is vital for anything that may have been missed and for identification
of a new infestation as early as possible.
Step #3–Clean the environment
Machine wash all personal items such as clothes, bed linens, towels in very hot water and dry at
least 20 minutes in hot dryer. Store all other exposed items in a large plastic bag for 2 weeks or
dry clean. Vacuum all affected areas including mattresses, sofas, cushions, pillows, teddy bears.
Wrap vacuum bag and contents in plastic bag and discard. Disinfect combs and brushes by soaking
them in very hot water for 15 minutes.
Should other family members or roommates be checked for head lice?
Yes. If one member of a residence has head lice, all members should be inspected periodically for
two weeks. If lice or nits are found, they should be treated promptly. (See prevention section)
Prevention
1. Watch for signs of head lice, such as frequent head scratching. Anyone can get head lice ...
mainly by head to head contact but also from sharing hats, brushes and headrests. Lice do
not jump or fly.
2. Check all family members for lice and nits (lice eggs) at least once a week. Only those
infested should be treated. Lice are reddish-brown wingless insects; nits are grayish-white,
always oval shaped, and are glued at an angle to the side of the hair shaft.
3. Be sure not to confuse nits with hair debris such as bright white irregularly-shaped
clumps of dandruff stuck to the hair shaft or elongated segments of dandruff encircling the
hair shaft and easily dislodged. Lice treatment is not appropriate for hair debris.
And finally....... if your child checks positive......please remember to notify your child's
school, camp, child care provider and neighbourhood parents. Check for lice on a regular
basis. This is the best way to protect your family and community