Head Lice

The health office must check all known cases of headlice before a child can return to school.

The Facts of Lice (Pediculosis)

What is it?
Head lice are small insects about 1/8 of an inch or approximately the size of a sesame seed. They are grayish-brown in color and do not have wings. They have 6 legs on their upper body that allows them to crawl very fast. Lice are not able to jump, swim, or fly.  They live in the hair on the head and feed on blood through the skin of the scalp.  They lay eggs called "nits" on hair strands near the scalp. Lice live approximately 30 days and lay approximately 6 eggs per day. The nits hatch in 7-10 days and the cycle repeats itself.

Who Gets It and How?
Anyone can get head lice.  It is not an indication of dirtiness nor should it be shameful.  Three - six million Americans are affected each year, primarily preschool and school age children.  Any place children get together, such as schools, preschools, and day care centers; they are at risk for getting head lice.  Lice spread from person to person by crawling. This can happen by:

  • Head to head contact
  • Sharing hair ties, headbands or barrettes
  • Sharing hats, coats, scarves
  • Sharing combs and brushes
  • Sharing helmets and headphones
  • Contact with infested bedding, towels, or toys


What to look for?
Your child may complain of their head itching or you may notice frequent scratching of the head. Check your child's hair under a bright light, such a direct sunlight or a florescent lamp. Since lice are small and fast they are difficult to find. Look for the teardrop shaped nits attached to the hair strand near the scalp. A nit may be cream, brown, gray, yellowish or clear colored.  They are glued on to the hair and can not be flicked off or moved easily. Lice lay their eggs in the warm moist areas of the head such as the hair at the back of the neck and around the ears. Look in these areas first, then check the rest of the scalp and hair.

Treatment

Head lice are treated with special lice killing products applied to the hair.  Most of these products are insecticides and must be used only as directed.  Some over the counter brand names are: Nix, Rid, Clear and Pronto. Prescription treatment products are also available from your physician.  Check with your physician before any treatment if you are pregnant or a child is less than 2 years old.  After treating the child all the eggs or nits must be removed with a special nit comb, your fingers, or tweezers.  Nits are very small teardrop shaped eggs that are glued to the hair shaft.  They can be white, gray, brown, yellowish, or clear colored.  Very bright light such as sunlight or a florescent lamp and a magnifying glass will make finding them easier. All the nits must be removed, as the treatment products do not kill all the eggs. If not removed, they will hatch and start a new infestation.  Re-treatment may be necessary in 7 days. All household members must be checked and treated if lice or nits are found.

Since lice may crawl or hair with nits can fall off the head it is important to clean the environment. Thoroughly vacuum all carpeting, furniture and car interiors. Wash in hot water and dry on hot setting: all recently used clothes, hats, scarves, coats, bedding, pillows, hair ties and washable stuffed animals if the child sleeps with them. If an item is not washable, vacuum it thoroughly.

Lice are communicable so it is important to report all cases to your child's school and day-care providers.  Your child must be free of all lice and nits before returning to school or day care.

Oil Treatment

Head lice infestations can be treated with products that suffocate the live lice and assist in removing the eggs.  Some of the products that accomplish this are:

  • Vegetable oil
  • Thick hair gels
  • Olive oil 
  • Cholesterol Hair Conditioner (yellow) by Queen Helen (Meijers, Wal-Mart, Sally's Hair Supplies)
  • Vaseline (may take much washing to remove). 

Mayonnaise Should Not be used as it contains eggs, which can spoil presenting a risk of food poisoning if accidentally ingested.  Baby oil has not been very successful in killing lice possibly because it is very thin.

If a lice killing product such as Nix, Rid, Clear, Lindane or other similar product is to be used it should be applied and removed strictly according to package instructions before using any of the above treatments.

  • These products must be applied thickly so the scalp and all hairs are heavily coated.  Protect pillows by placing a towel under the head.  Older children (6 years and up) may use a plastic shower cap to help contain the products.  DO NOT apply wraps to the head.  They could become a suffocation risk.
  • While the product is still in the hair comb through the hair with a lice comb.  Comb through one small section at a time, it may be helpful to comb the hair towards the scalp as if teasing it.  This may dislodge more nits.  Check and clean the comb for lice and nits after every stroke.  Remove the lice and nits from the comb with a tissue, a toothpick or rinse the comb in hot water and clean with an old toothbrush.  Inspect the hair carefully and use your fingers to pick or slide any nits off that weren't removed by the comb. A magnifying glass may be helpful in seeing small nits.  This is still the most important part of the treatment.
  • Wash the hair with DAWN, JOY or any grease cutting dish soap to help remove it.  Apply the liquid dish soap directly to the hair BEFORE wetting it with water. Work the soap through the hair then add water.  Several washings with dish soap may be necessary.  After washing go through the hair with the nit comb and look for any remaining nits.  Pick out any nits not removed by the nit comb.
  • These treatments can and should be repeated step by step every 3-4 days for 30 days.  This will kill any lice that have hatched from nits missed during the initial treatment.  It is very important to pick and comb all nits from the hair and inspect the hair daily for the next 30 days. 

 
Prevention

  1. Check your child's hair daily at first then weekly.
  2. Teach your child not to share hair care items, hats, or hair ornaments.
  3. Wash hair frequently and brush thoroughly daily.
  4. Keep long hair tied up or pulled back.
  5. Teach your child not to share towels, pillows, or blankets.
  6. Wash coats and hats frequently.


Additional Information

National Pediculosis Association
PO Box 6102189 
Newton, MA  02161
1-781-449-nits
1-888-542-3634 (Product ordering only)
http://www.headlice.org
1-781-647-5338
  • Current Lice information
  • Licemeister combs

American Head Lice Information Center
Sawyer-Mac Productions
80 Ash St.
Weston, MA  02193
"Licemiester" nit comb
http://www.headliceinfo.com

  • Head Lice to Dead Lice Video
  • Lice Information

Robi-Comb
1-800-739-9883 ext. 310
www.robicomb.com
Walgreen Drugs
Walmart -special order in 1-2 days
Sheldon's Drugs Yale and Capac
Vollmer's Drugs 10th St. Port Huron

  • Electronic comb that kills lice

Hair Clear 1-2-3
www.quantumhealth.com
www.planetrx.com
Honycomb Natural Food Port Hruon

  • Non-pesticide lice treatment