Head Lice a Common Back-to-School Problem

KSBI-TV

An estimated 6 to 12 million head lice infestations occur each year among American children age 3 to 11, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Areas where groups of children commonly gather such as classrooms or daycare centers can play host to spreading the itchy bug. Although contracting head lice is unpleasant, there is no need to panic if your child happens to carry it home.

"There are many common myths about lice. Head lice cannot jump or fly, pets cannot transmit them, they are not known to spread disease and hygiene doesn't play a part in whether a person becomes infested or not," said Dr. Seana Dean, pediatrician with GlobalHealth, Inc.

According to the World Health Organization, head lice is the most prevalent human parasitic infestation in the and Europe . Head lice are parasitic insects that survive by feeding off human blood and can be found in the hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. Lice are extremely contagious and are spread by close person-to-person contact, either directly or indirectly. Direct contact with an infested person can lead to an infestation as well as contact with an infested person's belongings such as coats, hats, pillows and brushes.

Symptoms include a tickling feeling in the hair, frequent itching and sores on the scalp from scratching. Lice are easiest to detect at the neckline and behind the ears. There are three forms of lice: nits (eggs), nymphs and adults. An adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed and can survive on a human for up to 30 days, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. They usually cannot survive off the host for more than 24 hours.

Dr. Dean recommends treating lice in two steps, each equally important:

1. Use an over-the-counter pediculocide to kill the lice; and

2. Manually remove the lice and eggs.

"The manual removal should actually be done several times," explained Dr. Dean. "It sometimes takes multiple combings - up to seven nights in a row - to be certain all of the eggs are removed. The manual removal is actually every bit as important as the pediculocide. Don't even consider skipping this step!"

GlobalHealth recommends these tips for treating and preventing head lice:

• Treat with pediculocides medicine containing chemicals that kill lice.
• Read all directions on pediculocides before using.
• Consult your pharmacist or physician before applying or using lice treatment pesticides when the person involved is pregnant, nursing, has allergies, asthma, epilepsy, other pre-existing medical conditions, or has lice or nits in the eyebrows or eyelashes. Never use a pesticide on or near the eyes.
• No pediculocide is 100 percent effective so it's important to also use manual removal.
• Manually remove all lice and nits with a lice comb, fingernails or a pet flea comb.
• Treat all affected family members at the same time.
• Clean the home environment - vacuum surfaces and wash clothing and bed sheets. Sheets and recently worn clothing should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. Avoid lice sprays; they are ineffective and unnecessary.
• Teach children not to share clothing, brushes or other personal belongings.
• Do frequent head checks.
• Teach children to hang personal belongings so as not to come in contact with other people's belongings.

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