Headlice - Help! What Do I Do?

Head lice are common in situations where children come into close contact regularly, such as school and day care centers. Lice can live in hair all over the head, not just on the scalp, and can live elsewhere on the body (in which case, they may be called pubic lice or body lice.)

Contrary to popular belief, headlice do not have wings thus, they cannot become air born. They crawl from one place to the next. The females lay their eggs called nits. A female can lay up to 100 nits before dying. These nits are attached to hair by a sticky substance, making them extremely hard to remove manually from the hair. It typically takes around 10 days for a nit to mature into an adult after being laid by a female louse.

Once a child has been found to be harboring headlice by a nurse or teacher, parents ask themselves how to get rid of hair lice. There are several ways to do so; lice shampoo, available at most local pharmacies and drugstores, is one way. There are also special lice combs and herbal remedies (usually made with coconut or tea tree oils) that will help dispel an infestation of lice.

Treat the areas where your child is at most frequently. Places such as his or her bedroom, living room, and other areas of play. Make sure to vacuum daily to remove any nits or lice from the carpet. Wash all soft items like clothing, stuffed animals, and bedding in hot water and dry them on the hottest cycle, this is all important to treat your child’s lice infestation.

Preventing lice is sometimes impossible, but through the practice of good hygiene you can lower the odds. Instruct your child to not share, helmets, hats, or any form of hooded clothing with other children. Wipe off items such as headphones between use as well. You must also check your child for signs of headlice frequently. Such signs can be white spots which do not comb off with ease, and monitor your child for any scratching of the head.

Once you are sure that your child has head lice, notify the school nurse and your child’s teachers immediately. This way, you may be able to stop the infested child from spreading lice to other children; your child will probably need to stay out of school until it is clear that your child no longer has any lice or nits in his or her hair. Call your school for exact requirements.

Once a child has been found to be harboring headlice by a nurse or teacher, parents ask themselves how to get rid of head lice. There are several ways to do so; lice shampoo, available at most local pharmacies and drugstores, is one way. There are also special lice combs and herbal remedies that will help dispel an infestation of lice. If your child becomes infected, tell their teacher or school nurse. This can help prevent the infection from spreading to children around them. Some schools will require that children stay home until treated and completely free of nits and lice.

- norman horowitz