Head Lice Management

Head lice are wingless insects about the size of a sesame seed. They are parasites, meaning they need a host (person) for nourishment. Their color is light tan but may turn to brown or reddish after feeding. Head lice can’t jump or fly but rather move quickly on the head by crawling with their six powerful legs. Lice have the ability to cling to the hair shaft with claws at the end of their legs. They like the warm, humid conditions of the scalp.

Lice lay eggs that are called nits. During her one-month life cycle, a female louse may lay as many as 150 nits. Nits are about the size of a pin head, oval shaped and usually clear to white. They are held tightly to individual strands of hair with a strong glue like substance. Nits hatch in 7-10 days into nymphs. Within 12-14 days, these nymphs mature and repeat the cycle again. Head lice feed about every 3-6 hours during their 30 day life span. Off the head they survive only 24 to 48 hours.

How do they spread?

Lice crawl quickly and are spread only by direct contact. When children play close enough so their heads touch, lice can crawl from head to head. They are also transmitted from an infested person sharing articles such as caps, combs, clothing, towels, brushes, stuffed animals, and other headgear. Upholstered furniture, pillows, carpets, bed linens, can also spread lice if infested.

Symptoms:

Once head lice make their way to the scalp, they begin to feed, and this causes the persistent itching an infested person feels. By looking at small sections or hair and scalp at a time, search for lice and nits throughout the head of hair. Pay particular attention to the area behind the ears, at the crown of the head and at the nape of the neck. When lice or nits are found on the head, treatment must begin.

Treatment:

Medically, the consequences of head lice are minor as they do not produce illness. However, having head lice is a major inconvenience and time consuming nuisance.

There are two (2) objectives to accomplish during treatment:

1. Kill and remove all live lice from the child and the environment.
2. Remove all nits from the child’s head. Remember, each nit has the potential to produce another louse. By removing ALL nits, you are breaking the cycle and eliminating the problem.

How is this accomplished?

One method used to kill live lice is to buy over-the-counter head lice treatment products. Please realize these are pesticides and there are NO safe pesticides. If this is your treatment of choice, PLEASE follow the directions exactly as written. Recently the commercial products have not been effective in killing live lice thus delaying the time your child and home are lice free.

An alternate treatment to kill head lice is to use natural products such as olive oil, Vaseline, or mayonnaise. The louse is actually smothered within a few hours of treatment. Since these products are not harmful to the child, they may be repeated frequently, thus smothering live lice in various stages of development.
See MAYONNAISE TREATMENT on this website for specific instructions.

Nit Removal:

REMOVING NITS IS ESSENTIAL TO BREAKING THE HEAD LICE CYCLE!

Special head lice combs are available to aid in nit removal. Read the package directions and follow them. Nits can also be removed manually by placing a strand of hair between the index finger and thumb nail. The nit can then be pulled off.

Removing nits is a painstaking process, but it is the only way to stop the infestation.

It is essential to check your child’s hair 1-2 times daily for a period of at least two weeks to ensure that ALL the nits are removed.

Washing and Cleaning:

Items that could harbor lice should be washed or vacuumed. Recently worn clothing as well as bedding should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. Make time to vacuum carpets, mattresses and upholstery in your home and auto. Stuffed animals can be vacuumed or sealed in plastic bags for two weeks.
Avoid Lice Sprays! Vacuuming is the safest and best way to remove any stray lice or nits on strands of hair.

No Nit Policy:

District 57 adheres to a No Nit Policy as recommended by the National Pediculosis Association. This public health standard is intended to keep children lice free, nit free, and in school.

Head lice are one of the most common childhood community health problems that parents and schools have to deal with. Early identification and early intervention are key elements to stopping the spread of this time consuming nuisance.

Incorporating a weekly head check into your child’s hygiene routine will insure that any infestation with head lice will be detected early. Treatment can begin immediately before several generations of lice have laid hundreds of nits and spread to other family members, classmates, sport team members, and the community at large. Parents, you are the key to stopping an outbreak of head lice!!

When you discover head lice and choose a treatment, PLEASE notify your child’s school nurse. By working together, we can check other children that may be infested and STOP a major out break. Speaking up about head lice is the responsible thing to do. We keep your confidence but are able to check and detect any head lice problem before it gets out of control.

Your school nurses are only too happy to check your child and share tips for treatment and nit removal. An excellent source for specific, accurate information and pictures is the National Pediculosis Association. Their website is http://www.headlice.org
The philosophy of this group is consistent with District 57’s.