Beat head lice with medicine, vigilance

 

HEALTHDAY
Detroit Free Press
September 9, 2006

 

They put their heads together and giggle, wear each other's hats and use each other's combs and brushes. It's school time again, and that means it's time to take precautions in case your kids bring home that dreaded plague -- head lice.

 

Many schools periodically check children for lice, so don't freak out if you get a note from the teacher. You also should be on alert: Is your child scratching? Is he complaining of a tingling head? Or does she have unexplained sores on her scalp?

 

Once head lice appear, getting rid of them is going to take time and effort. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these tips:

 

Delousing the child

  • Use a prescription or over-the-counter lice remedy. If your child has hair longer than shoulder length, you may need two bottles.


  • Wash all clothing and bedding worn or used by the infested person in the two-day period before treatment is started. Use hot water (at least 130 degrees). Dry on high heat for at least 20 minutes.


  • Dry-clean clothing that's not washable (coats, hats, scarves, etc.).


  • Before applying treatment, remove all clothing from the waist up. That's to avoid staining, and so that the lice don't fall off and escape in clothing.


  • Apply the medicine. Pay attention to the instructions. Do not rewash hair for one to two days after treatment.


  • Have the infested person put on clean clothing after treatment.


  • If a few live lice are found eight to 12 hours later but are moving slowly, don't repeat treatment. Comb dead and live lice out with a nit comb, often found in lice-medicine packages.


  • If, after eight to 12 hours of treatment, no dead lice are found and lice seem as active as before, the medicine may not be working. Get a different medication -- you may want to see a doctor this time if you didn't before -- and treat again.


  • After treatment, check hair and comb with a nit comb every two to three days. Continue to check for two to three weeks until you are sure all lice and nits are gone.


    • Treating the house

    Head lice don't survive long if they fall off a person and can't feed, so you don't need to spend a lot of time or money housecleaning. But follow these steps to help avoid reinfestation.



  • Soak all combs and brushes for 1 hour in rubbing alcohol or Lysol, or wash with soap and hot water.


  • Vacuum floors and furniture where the infested person usually sits or lies down. Don't use fumigant sprays; they can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.


    • Preventing reinfestation

    Lice are most commonly spread directly by head-to-head contact and much less frequently by lice that have crawled onto clothing or belongings. Teach your child to:



  • Avoid head-to-head contact at school, sports activities, playgrounds and other events.


  • Don't share clothing or even hair ribbons.


  • Don't share combs, brushes or towels.


    • www.freep.com

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