Taking care of head lice

The Neosho Daily News
By Todd G. Higdon / Daily News Staff Writer
October 29, 2007

A common problem year round is head lice.

Head louse (lice is the plural of louse) is a tiny, wingless parasitic insect that lives among human hairs and feeds on extremely small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. The problem can especially be found in children ages 3 to 12 and with girls more often than boys.

But head lice can be detected in anyone.

According to Newton County Health Department Nursing Supervisor Patti Yates, "anyone who comes in close contact with someone who already has head lice can get head lice. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home has nothing to do with getting head lice."

Lice aren't dangerous and they don't spread disease. They are small and can be seen by the naked eye. Their bites may cause people's head to itch and get inflamed. Persistent scratching may lead to skin irritation and even infection.

"We see more when school starts, but that is probably just because schools are checking for them," said Yates.

Check for head lice

• Lice eggs are called nits, which look like tiny yellow, tan or brown dots before they hatch. After hatching, the remaining shell looks white or clear. Lice lay their eggs on hair shafts close to the skin's surface, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. The nits look like dandruff, only they can't be removed by brushing or shaking them off. Lice eggs hatch within one to two weeks after they're laid.
• Adult lice and nymphs (baby lice). The adult louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and is brownish tan. Nymphs are smaller and become adult lice about seven days after they hatch. Most lice feed on blood about every four to six hours, but they can survive up to three days off the scalp.
• Scratching.
• Small, red bumps or sores from scratching.

Can lice be prevented?

Having head lice is not a sign of uncleaniness or poor hygiene. According to reports, the pesky little bugs can be a problem for kids of all ages and socioeconomic levels, no matter how often they do or don't clean their hair or bathe.

Precautions

• Tell your child to try to avoid head-to-head contact at school and playing at home with other children.
• Don't share combs, brushes, hats, scarves, bandanas, ribbons, barrettes, hair ties or bands, towels, helmets, or other personal care items, with anyone else, whether they may have head lice or not.
• Don't lie on bedding, pillows and carpets that have recently been used by someone with lice.
• Examine members of the household who have had close contact with a person who has lice every three or four days. Then treat those who are found to have lice or nits close to the scalp.

Treatment

A doctor can recommend a medicated shampoo, cream or lotion to kill the lice. These may be over-the-counter or prescription medications, depending on what treatments have already been tried.

"People walk in once in a while looking for information/medication shampoo," Yates said.

It is important to follow the directions exactly because these products are insecticides. Applying these medications too much or too frequently can increase the risk of causing harm.

The medicated lice treatments can also kill the lice and nits, but it may take a few days for the itching to stop. The doctor may recommend repeating treatment in seven to 10 days to make sure all the nits have been killed.

If a child is 2 years old or under, you should not use medicated lice treatments. You will need to remove the nits and lice by hand.

Also, it is a good idea to use a fine-tooth comb on your hair after regular shampooing every three to four days for two weeks. Wetting the hair beforehand is recommended because it temporarily immobilizes the lice and they become easier to comb out.

• Wash all bed linens and clothing that's been recently worn by anyone in your home who's infested in very hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit) then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.
• Dry-clean any clothing that is not machine washable.
• Vacuum carpets and any upholstered furniture in the home or vehicle.
• Soak hair-care items like combs, barrettes, hair ties, brushes, etc., in rubbing alcohol or medicated shampoo for one hour.
• Remember, be patient and follow the treatments and preventative tips as directed by the doctor for keeping the bugs at bay and you will be well on your way to keeping your family lice-free.

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