Overview of Head Lice
For Parents
What are Head Lice?
• Small, wingless, crawling insects about 1/8 of
an inch long (about the size of a sesame seed)
• They do not jump, hop or fly
• They are bloodsucking, parasites that live and
feed on the human head
Nits
• The female louse can lay 5-6 eggs per day
about 50-150 in her lifetime
• Eggs (nits) hatch in 5-10 days and reach
maturity in 8-10 days
• Nits are about 1/32 of an inch, oval-shaped,
grayish-white and are glued to the hair shaft
Lice
Facts
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An adult louse has a life span of about 30 days
More than 12 million people contract head lice each year
Head lice are most common in children age 3 years to 12 years old
Outbreaks can show up at anytime but are most prevalent when kids are
heading back to school and after vacations (August-October, and again in
January)
Symptoms of Head Lice
• Persistent itching of the scalp
• Tickling feeling of something moving in the
hair
• Scratch marks (sometimes get infected) or
what appears to be a rash around the
hairline/neck
• Tiny white-yellowish or grayish oval nits
attached to the hair shafts most often found
around the ears and the nape of neck
How is Head
Lice Spread?
• Head lice are transmitted most frequently from the
head of an infested person to another individual
through direct contact.
• Head lice can also be transmitted by sharing personal
items such as combs, brushes, towels, bedding, pillows,
sleeping bags, clothing, hats, ribbons, hair decorations,
scarves, sweaters, coats, stuffed animals etc.
• Upholstered furniture, the backs of chairs and car seats
are also possible but unlikely sources.
Treatments for Head Lice
• Over-the-Counter (OTC) products:
(NIX, RID)
• Prescription products:
(Ovide, Lindane)
• Alternative Therapies: natural and herbal
These products have NOT been proven effective and are not
regulated by the FDA
• Nit picking (hair combing) with a fine tooth comb to remove nits
from the hair. Combing takes time and patience. Alone, it is NOT
considered an effective treatment for head lice. Combing does not
kill lice.
How To Get Rid Of Head Lice
1. Choose a proven method of treatment (pediculicide). Consult your
doctor or pharmacist for treatments that work best.
2. Follow directions exactly as written on the manufacturer’s label
(including retreatment).
3. After appropriate treatment, REMOVE ALL NITS with a lice comb.
This is a time consuming process and hair should be parted into
sections.
4. Check for nits daily for the next 10-14 days and more if needed.
5. Check everyone in the house for signs of lice. Treat others if
necessary at this time. Do not treat prophylactically
Clean Personal Items
and Surroundings
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Machine wash all washable and possibly infested items (clothes, hats, scarves,
blankets, sheets and towels) in hot water. Dry them in hot dryer.
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Put non-washable items (furry toys or pillows) in hot dryer for 20 minutes or dry
clean them.
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Seal items that cannot be washed or dried in a plastic bag for 10 days.
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Soak combs, brushes and hair accessories for 10 minutes in hot soapy water or put
in the dishwasher using sterilize cycle.
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Thoroughly vacuum rug, upholstered furniture, mattresses ,cars and car seats.
Throw out vacuum cleaner bags immediately after use.
Head Lice in the
School
• If you notice your child has head lice please notify the school nurse.
You should also notify your child’s friends or those she/he has been
in close contact with.
• If the school nurse finds head lice/nits on your child, you will be
called to pick-up for treatment.
• Please let the nurse know what method of treatment you are using,
and the date you started.
• The school nurse will need to check your child before restarting
school
South Kingstown School District
Policy on Head Lice
Policy 5141.4
Any student who is found to have lice or nits in his/her
hair will be excluded from school until after treatment
with the proper type shampoo and all lice/eggs/nits
have been removed from the hair.
The student will be examined by the school nurse and
declared free of lice/eggs/nits before being allowed to
return to classes.
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South Kingstown School District has a policy which is stricter than the Rhode Island
Department of Health with the goal of preventing transmissions at school.
Myths About Head Lice
• Dirty kids spread lice. Head lice have no preference for
dirty hair or clean hair.
• Pets spread lice. False, your pets will not give you lice nor
will they get head lice.
• You can get diseases or die from head lice. False, head lice
do not carry or pass deadly diseases they just make you
itch.
• Insecticide shampoos can be toxic. Pyrethrine is a natural
extract from the chrysanthemum plant and permethrin is
the synthetic form. If different treatments are prescribed
they are considered safe when used properly.
• If I sit next to someone with head lice I will get it. False,
head lice do not fly, jump or hop into someone else’s hair.
For More Information
• Websites:
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www.health.state.ri.us/disease/communicable/pediculosis.php
www.cdc.gov/lice/head
www.headlicetodeadlice.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCoZP5Aso5U Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGvGY72zAqI&list=UL Part 2