Keep Head Lice Away

The Olympian
Published November 16, 2008

The formal name is pediculosis. Kids call it cooties.

Whatever you choose to call it, an infection of head lice is no fun for parents or kids or schools, but is a fairly common nuisance that takes persistence and patience.

Lice are spread only through direct contact with an infected person or area, so the little bugs are transmitted through sharing of combs, hats, clothes and coats.

Districts have different policies for removing children from school during an infestation. But although they are annoying to deal with, lice do not spread disease.

Signs of lice

Itchy scalps, though someone can have lice for months without any itching, or a rash around the neck.

Little yellowish-white eggs, called nits, stuck on hairs close to the scalp. Sometimes dandruff is mistaken for nits.

Louse droppings that look like a fine black powder that fall on pillows.

Something moving on the scalp could be lice. Head lice are small and hard to see with the naked eye.

Under a magnifying glass, you might be able to see that head lice are brownish-red or gray with six legs built for clinging.

Questions and answers

What are they?: Head lice (pediculus humanus capitus) are parasites that afflict more than 6 million people each year.

How do they live?: Lice live on blood, and they lay their eggs close to the scalp where the temperature is right for incubation.

How long to do they live?: According to the National Pediculosis Association, head lice live for 30 days on a scalp but die within 24 hours if they are not on a human. The eggs can live for up to two weeks, so it's a good idea to tie off clothing, pillows and toys in a plastic bag for two weeks after you see the last of the lice.

Trivia: A female louse lays about four eggs per day that take about eight days to mature into lice capable of starting the cycle again.

Prevention

Tell your child not to share towels, brushes, hair ties, bike helmets, car seats, pillows, pillow cases, head covers, hats or hoods with their classmates.

Screen your child's head frequently. Wear rubber gloves and use a special comb made for the purpose.

If a family member has been identified with head lice, vacuum the house, the furniture, the car and stuffed animals. Bed sheets and washable items should go for a round in the dryer for about 30 minutes.

Don't bother your pet; head lice do not live on animals.

Myth versus reality

Myth: Being in a classroom with a classmate with lice puts a student at high risk of catching them.

Reality: Head lice can't fly and can't jump. They require direct contact to move from place to place. Someone is more likely to catch head lice from an airplane seat or a hat just used by someone who has head lice than standing next to them.

Myth: Lice cause infections.

Reality: Lice don't cause infections, but scratching the itch ? just like any other scratching ? can cause skin infections.

Myth: Having head lice is an indicator of a dirty home.

Reality: Head lice only care about attaching themselves to a human scalp.

Myth: I need to get all of the nits out of my child's hair, even if I don't see any lice.

Reality: This is true, but sometimes people confuse dandruff or hair oil for nits. If it crumbles in your fingers, it is probably not a nit.

Myth: If I remove all of the nits and lice from my kids' heads, that'll be the end of the infestation.

Reality: Parents also need to wash all of the bedding and clothes, and vacuum the carpets and upholstery to eradicate the nits. Hats and other items that can't be washed can be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks. Nits and lice can't survive without human contact, and putting the items in a bag will starve them.

Myth: My kids and home seem to be nit-free. I can stop checking for lice.

Reality: Parents can't forget to have someone check their own heads for head lice. Adults can catch them, too (and can give them back to their kids).

Source: The Olympian archives

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