Head Lice: Don't Panic
Woonsocket policy: Students found to have live head lice will be sent home at the end of the day, after contact has been made with the parent. Students may return to school as soon as the first treatment is completed but must report to school nurse for evaluation.
Woonsocket policy: Students found to have live head lice will be sent home at the end of the day, after contact has been made with the parent. Students may return to school as soon as the first treatment is completed but must report to school nurse for evaluation.
Panic for many parents: the head louse is a tiny, wingless parasitic insect that lives among human hairs and feeds on extremely small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Although they may sound gross, lice (the plural of louse) are a very common problem, especially for kids ages 3 years to 12 years (girls more often than boys).
Lice aren't dangerous and they don't spread disease, but they are contagious and can just be downright annoying. Their bites may cause a child's scalp to become itchy and inflamed, and persistent scratching may lead to skin irritation and even infection.
It's wise to treat head lice quickly once the diagnosis is made because they can spread easily from person to person.
Signs of Head Lice:
Though very small, lice can be seen by the naked eye. What you or your doctor might see by thoroughly examining your child's head:
Lice aren't dangerous and they don't spread disease, but they are contagious and can just be downright annoying. Their bites may cause a child's scalp to become itchy and inflamed, and persistent scratching may lead to skin irritation and even infection.
It's wise to treat head lice quickly once the diagnosis is made because they can spread easily from person to person.
Signs of Head Lice:
Though very small, lice can be seen by the naked eye. What you or your doctor might see by thoroughly examining your child's head:
Lice eggs (called nits).
These look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots before they hatch. Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits look sort of like dandruff, only they can't be removed by brushing or shaking them off.
Unless the infestation is heavy, it's more common to see nits in a child's hair than it is to see live lice crawling on the scalp. Lice eggs hatch within 1 to 2 weeks after they're laid. After hatching, the remaining shell looks white or clear and continues to be firmly attached to the hair shaft. This is the stage when it's easiest to spot them, as the hair is growing longer and the egg shell is moving further away from the scalp.
Adult lice and nymphs (baby lice). The adult louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and is grayish-white or tan. Nymphs are smaller and become adult lice about 1 to 2 weeks after they hatch. Most lice feed on blood several times a day, but they can survive up to 2 days off the scalp.
Scratching. With lice bites come itching and scratching. This is actually due to a reaction to the saliva of lice. However, the itching may not always start right away — that depends on how sensitive your child's skin is to the lice. It can sometimes take weeks for kids with lice to start scratching. They may complain, though, of things moving around on or tickling their heads.
Small, red bumps or sores from scratching. For some kids, the irritation is mild; for others, a more bothersome rash may develop. Excessive scratching can lead to a bacterial infection (the skin would become red and tender and may have crusting and oozing along with swollen lymph glands). If your doctor thinks this is the case, he or she may treat the infection with an oral antibiotic.
You may be able to see the lice or nits by parting your child's hair into small sections and checking for lice and nits with a fine-tooth comb on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the nape of the neck (it's rare for them to be found on eyelashes or eyebrows).
A magnifying glass and bright light may help. But it can be tough to find a nymph or adult louse — often, there aren't many of them and they're able to move fast.
Call the school nurse if your child is constantly scratching his or her head or complains of an itchy scalp that won't go away. She can check your child's head and perform a screening for the entire class and see if other kids have recently been treated for lice. Not all kids have the classic symptoms of head lice and may be totally symptom-free.
Are Lice Contagious?
Lice are highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person, especially in group settings (schools, childcare centers, slumber parties, sports activities, and camps).
Though they can't fly or jump, these tiny parasites have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair. They spread mainly through head-to-head contact, but sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats can also help pass them along. Kids are most prone to catching lice because they tend to have close physical contact with each other and often share personal items.
And you may wonder if Fido or Fluffy may be catching the pests and passing them on to your family. But rest assured that pets can't catch head lice and pass them on to people or the other way around.
Head Lice Treatments:
The main treatments for head lice usually involve using a head lice shampoo, like Rid or Nix, and then remove nits with a lice comb. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for whatever products you choose to use, which typically includes a second treatment 7 to 10 days after the first head lice treatment.
Parents have been having good luck with this treatment:
Cetaphil Lice Treatment:
Start with dry hair and cover shoulders with a towel. (Cetaphil is very thick, so you won't have much dripping) Use a metal lice comb to comb out as many lice/nits as possible before your start.
Section your hair in very small sections; it is extremely important that you coat every strand of hair and apply the cetaphil directly to your scalp at each part you make in your hair so that you lessen the chance of missing even one louse on your head.
Use Cetaphil liberally and massage it in. Even one louse left uncoated may survive to reproduce.
Once you are sure you have covered every strand of hair and every inch of scalp, use a regular, but sturdy comb to begin combing out the excess lotion. You may need to use a wide toothed comb first, if your hair is thick or very long. Comb until you have removed as much of the excess Cetaphil as possible.
Once that is done, use a hair dryer to dry your hair. (Use the most powerful hair dryer you have, as the drying process can take up to 3 times longer than drying after a shower. The Cetaphil takes much longer to dry than water. What will happen is that the Cetaphil will dry on your head, most importantly on the lice and will cut off their source of oxygen, thereby smothering them. Lice can survive hours without oxygen, so you must leave this on your hair for a minimum of 8 hours. This can be done before bed, so that it will work when they are sleeping. You must make sure that your hair is completely dry in order for the lice to be totally encased in the dried cetaphil.
After 8 hours, wash and dry your hair normally. Use the metal lice comb once again to comb out any surviving live bugs/nits.
For best results, you must repeat this treatment 3 times in one week intervals to make sure that any newly hatching lice do not survive and begin the hatching/reproducing cycle again.
Repellant spray to keep lice away:
Add 10-12 drops of pure tea tree oil to a cup of water in an empty spray bottle. Shake well.
Spray hair daily after styling. Also spray back of neck and articles of clothing such as hats, scarves and coats with this solution.
Warning: Tea tree oil can be harsh on skin. Spray a light amount of solution on the inside of arm first. If it becomes itchy, red or inflamed, do not use the spray.
Families have told me that Lice Shiled Spray and Fairytales spray are also effective against head lice.
You should also check other family members to make sure that they don't have head lice too, although the AAP recommends that 'those with live lice or nits within 1 cm of the scalp should be treated. There is no need to shave your child's head.
For light infestations or if you are uncomfortable using an anti-lice shampoo, you can try to simply remove the live lice and nits manually.
As there are often a lot of nits on a child and they can be hard to find and remove, you may continue to find nits for days after treatment. This doesn't mean that the treatment didn't work. If you continue to find live lice or new nits close to your child's scalp after treating with a anti-lice shampoo, then that likely does mean that it didn't work or your child was reinfected.
Don't forget:
Also be sure to wash your child's clothing and bedding in hot water and vacuum to remove lice and nits from furniture, carpets, stuffed animals, car seats, etc. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you really only have to clean "items that have been in contact with the head of the person with infestation in the 24 to 48 hours before treatment," and not everything in your house though. And you can put anything that you can't wash in a large plastic bag for a few weeks if you are really concerned that it is infested, although this is rarely necessary.
Any questions: Mrs. DiCenso would be glad to talk to you and guide you through the steps needed to eliminate lice from your child's head and home. After a child has been found to have head lice, I usually checked that child's head once per week for the next couple of weeks to ensure that reinfestation does not occur. A second set of eyes is always helpful!
These look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots before they hatch. Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits look sort of like dandruff, only they can't be removed by brushing or shaking them off.
Unless the infestation is heavy, it's more common to see nits in a child's hair than it is to see live lice crawling on the scalp. Lice eggs hatch within 1 to 2 weeks after they're laid. After hatching, the remaining shell looks white or clear and continues to be firmly attached to the hair shaft. This is the stage when it's easiest to spot them, as the hair is growing longer and the egg shell is moving further away from the scalp.
Adult lice and nymphs (baby lice). The adult louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and is grayish-white or tan. Nymphs are smaller and become adult lice about 1 to 2 weeks after they hatch. Most lice feed on blood several times a day, but they can survive up to 2 days off the scalp.
Scratching. With lice bites come itching and scratching. This is actually due to a reaction to the saliva of lice. However, the itching may not always start right away — that depends on how sensitive your child's skin is to the lice. It can sometimes take weeks for kids with lice to start scratching. They may complain, though, of things moving around on or tickling their heads.
Small, red bumps or sores from scratching. For some kids, the irritation is mild; for others, a more bothersome rash may develop. Excessive scratching can lead to a bacterial infection (the skin would become red and tender and may have crusting and oozing along with swollen lymph glands). If your doctor thinks this is the case, he or she may treat the infection with an oral antibiotic.
You may be able to see the lice or nits by parting your child's hair into small sections and checking for lice and nits with a fine-tooth comb on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the nape of the neck (it's rare for them to be found on eyelashes or eyebrows).
A magnifying glass and bright light may help. But it can be tough to find a nymph or adult louse — often, there aren't many of them and they're able to move fast.
Call the school nurse if your child is constantly scratching his or her head or complains of an itchy scalp that won't go away. She can check your child's head and perform a screening for the entire class and see if other kids have recently been treated for lice. Not all kids have the classic symptoms of head lice and may be totally symptom-free.
Are Lice Contagious?
Lice are highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person, especially in group settings (schools, childcare centers, slumber parties, sports activities, and camps).
Though they can't fly or jump, these tiny parasites have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair. They spread mainly through head-to-head contact, but sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats can also help pass them along. Kids are most prone to catching lice because they tend to have close physical contact with each other and often share personal items.
And you may wonder if Fido or Fluffy may be catching the pests and passing them on to your family. But rest assured that pets can't catch head lice and pass them on to people or the other way around.
Head Lice Treatments:
The main treatments for head lice usually involve using a head lice shampoo, like Rid or Nix, and then remove nits with a lice comb. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for whatever products you choose to use, which typically includes a second treatment 7 to 10 days after the first head lice treatment.
Parents have been having good luck with this treatment:
Cetaphil Lice Treatment:
- cetaphil gentle skin ( can be bought at any pharmacy)
- hair comb and towel
- hair clips for sectioning hair
Start with dry hair and cover shoulders with a towel. (Cetaphil is very thick, so you won't have much dripping) Use a metal lice comb to comb out as many lice/nits as possible before your start.
Section your hair in very small sections; it is extremely important that you coat every strand of hair and apply the cetaphil directly to your scalp at each part you make in your hair so that you lessen the chance of missing even one louse on your head.
Use Cetaphil liberally and massage it in. Even one louse left uncoated may survive to reproduce.
Once you are sure you have covered every strand of hair and every inch of scalp, use a regular, but sturdy comb to begin combing out the excess lotion. You may need to use a wide toothed comb first, if your hair is thick or very long. Comb until you have removed as much of the excess Cetaphil as possible.
Once that is done, use a hair dryer to dry your hair. (Use the most powerful hair dryer you have, as the drying process can take up to 3 times longer than drying after a shower. The Cetaphil takes much longer to dry than water. What will happen is that the Cetaphil will dry on your head, most importantly on the lice and will cut off their source of oxygen, thereby smothering them. Lice can survive hours without oxygen, so you must leave this on your hair for a minimum of 8 hours. This can be done before bed, so that it will work when they are sleeping. You must make sure that your hair is completely dry in order for the lice to be totally encased in the dried cetaphil.
After 8 hours, wash and dry your hair normally. Use the metal lice comb once again to comb out any surviving live bugs/nits.
For best results, you must repeat this treatment 3 times in one week intervals to make sure that any newly hatching lice do not survive and begin the hatching/reproducing cycle again.
Repellant spray to keep lice away:
Add 10-12 drops of pure tea tree oil to a cup of water in an empty spray bottle. Shake well.
Spray hair daily after styling. Also spray back of neck and articles of clothing such as hats, scarves and coats with this solution.
Warning: Tea tree oil can be harsh on skin. Spray a light amount of solution on the inside of arm first. If it becomes itchy, red or inflamed, do not use the spray.
Families have told me that Lice Shiled Spray and Fairytales spray are also effective against head lice.
You should also check other family members to make sure that they don't have head lice too, although the AAP recommends that 'those with live lice or nits within 1 cm of the scalp should be treated. There is no need to shave your child's head.
For light infestations or if you are uncomfortable using an anti-lice shampoo, you can try to simply remove the live lice and nits manually.
As there are often a lot of nits on a child and they can be hard to find and remove, you may continue to find nits for days after treatment. This doesn't mean that the treatment didn't work. If you continue to find live lice or new nits close to your child's scalp after treating with a anti-lice shampoo, then that likely does mean that it didn't work or your child was reinfected.
Don't forget:
Also be sure to wash your child's clothing and bedding in hot water and vacuum to remove lice and nits from furniture, carpets, stuffed animals, car seats, etc. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you really only have to clean "items that have been in contact with the head of the person with infestation in the 24 to 48 hours before treatment," and not everything in your house though. And you can put anything that you can't wash in a large plastic bag for a few weeks if you are really concerned that it is infested, although this is rarely necessary.
Any questions: Mrs. DiCenso would be glad to talk to you and guide you through the steps needed to eliminate lice from your child's head and home. After a child has been found to have head lice, I usually checked that child's head once per week for the next couple of weeks to ensure that reinfestation does not occur. A second set of eyes is always helpful!
Separate hair into tiny sections. Use a fine tooth comb to remove eggs and lice from the hair. Keep a bowl of 1/2 strength white vinegar and soapy hot water to clean the comb after each section.
Picking each bug/nit out with your fingers is also helpful.
Picking each bug/nit out with your fingers is also helpful.