THE FACTS OF LICE

INTRODUCTION WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON SINCE PRE-HISTORIC TIMES NOT KNOWN TO CAUSE DISEASE

RISK FACTORS PRE-SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY-AGE CHILDREN, 3-11 AND THEIR FAMILIES FEMALES MORE THAN MALES CLOSE HEAD-TO-HEAD CONTACT (during sport activities, slumber parties, at camp, etc) RARE IN AFRICAN-AMERICANS HYGIENE, HOME CLEANLINESS NOT A FACTOR WWW.CDC.ORG

OTHER RISK FACTORS CONTACT WITH HATS, SCARVES, COATS, BRUSHES ,TOWELS, LINENS, PILLOWS LESS COMMONLY CAUSES INFESTATION MORE COMMON IN GIRLS THAN BOYS, CHILDREN AGES 3-12 WWW.CDC.ORG, WWW.KIDSHEALTH.ORG

THE LIFE-CYCLE OF LICE Nits (the eggs of the head louse) are small yellowish-white, oval-shaped eggs that are "to the side of a hair shaft glued" at an angle Nits must be laid by live lice. You cannot "catch nits." Once laid, it takes 7-10 days for a nit to hatch, and another 7-10 days for the female to mature and begin laying her own eggs. WWW.HEADLICE.ORG

Head lice are about the size of sesame seeds. Head lice are clear in color when hatched, then quickly develop a reddish-brown color after feeding. Head lice are about the size of sesame seeds. Head lice have six legs equipped with claws to grasp the hair. Head lice are crawling insects. They cannot hop, jump, or fly. Head lice do not thrive on pets. WWW.HEADLICE.ORG

Head lice live for approximately 30 days on a host and a female louse may lay up to 100 nits (eggs). Head lice off their human hosts will starve. The NPA suggests that, in most cases, a head louse will not survive for more than 24 hours off of its human host. Head lice are small, wingless insects which feed on human blood. They need human blood in order to survive. WWW.HEADLICE.ORG

SYMPTOMS NITS OR LIVE BUGS( MORE RARE) ON HAIR, SCALP. ITCHY SCALP (OCCURS LATER) MAY HAVE RED, IRRITATED SCALP WWW.KIDSHEALTH.ORG

WHERE ARE HEAD LICE FOUND? MOST COMMONLY ON THE SCALP, BEHIND THE EARS AND NEAR THE NAPE OF THE NECK. RARELY ON BODY, EYELASHES OR EYEBROWS. HOLD ON TO HAIR WITH HOOK-LIKE CLAWS. WWW.CDC.ORG

HOME TREATMENT WASH ALL BED LINENS, CLOTHING, THAT AFFECTED CHILD HAS USED IN VERY HOT WATER (130 DEGREES) PUT THEM IN HOT CYCLE OF DRYER FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES BAG ITEMS THAT CAN’T BE WASHED FOR 2 WEEKS WWW.KIDHEALTH.ORG

HOME TREATMENT VACUUM CARPETS AND ULPHOLSTERED FURNITURE IN HOME AND CAR SOAK HAIR-CARE ITEMS IN ALCOHOL AND SHAMPOO FOR 1 HOUR OR WASH IN HOT WATER. WWW.KIDSHEALTH.ORG

HOME TREATMENT SHAMPOO AFFECTED CHILD IN PEDICULOCIDIC SHAMPOO (NIX, RID) AND AGAIN IN 7 – 10 DAYS. BRING CHILD TO SCHOOL AFTER FIRST SHAMPOO FOR NURSE TO CHECK PRIOR TO RE-ADMISSION TO SCHOOL. BRING EMPTY SHAMPOO BOX COMB WITH FINE-TOOTH COMB NIGHTLY FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS

HOME TREATMENT DO NOT TREAT UNAFFECTED FAMILY MEMBERS BUT KEEP CHECKING THEIR HEADS COMB, COMB, COMB AND MANUALLY REMOVE ALL NITS! MAY SNIP HAIR WITH NIT ATTACHED

HOW TO INSPECT HAIR USE A GOOD LIGHT SOURCE-OVER HEAD LAMP OR SIT BY A WINDOW USING A COMB WITH A POINTED END, SEPARATE EACH SECTION OF HAIR (AS IF YOU ARE “TOUCHING” UP ROOTS) GO THROUGH THE TOP RIGHT SECTION, THEN TOP LEFT SIDE AND BACK OF HEAD DOWN TO THE NAPE START AT THE SCALP AND LOOK DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE HAIR SHAFTS

/ http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/HeadLice/Photo.htm

http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/HeadLice/Photo.htm

http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/HeadLice/Photo.htm

RESISTANT CASES MEDICATION NOT WORKING MEDICATION KILLS CRAWLING BUGS, BUT IS NOT ABLE TO PENETRATE THE EGGS. NEW INFECTION- YOU CAN INFESTED MORE THAN ONCE. NOT FOLLOWING TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS FULLY. CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN http://nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/headlice.html MD MAY PRESCRIBE MEDICATED SHAMPOO

RESISTANT CASES INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF MEDICATION-(LONGER HAIR MAY REQUIRE 2 BOTTLES) SHAMPOOING THE HAIR TOO CLOSE TO APPLICATION OF PEDICULICIDE NOT COMBING OUT THOROUGHLY! DON’T RE-WASH HAIR FOR 1-2 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT MEDICATION ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH-MUST COMB ALL NITS OUT.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS MAYONAISSE CETAPHIL LOTION OLIVE OIL, DAWN DISH SOAP, VINEGAR DO NOT USE KEROSENE! DOES NOT REPLACE USING PEDICULOCIDE SHAMPOO WWW.SNP.HOMESTEAD.COM/LICE21.HTML COAT HAIR, LEAVE UNDER PLASTIC CAP FOR A FEW HOURS; THEN WASH AND COMB OUT SOME SUGGEST THAT SHAPOOING WITH TEA TREE OIL; GREEN APPLE SHAMPOO MAY ACT AS REPELLENT

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO? CHECK YOUR CHILDREN’S HEADS WEEKLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CALL THE HEALTH ROOM IF YOU SUSPECT OR KNOW THAT YOUR CHILD HAS LICE. RESEARCH SHOWS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OCCURS WHEN PARENTS CHECK THEIR OWN CHILDREN AT HOME, TREAT AND REMOVE THE NITS.

SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY CHILDREN MAY RETURN TO SCHOOL THE DAY AFTER TREATMENT (WITH THE BOXTOP AND PARENT) SCHOOL OR STAFF NURSE MUST CHECK THE STUDENT’S HAIR THERE MAY BE NO NITS LEFT WITHIN ½ INCH OF THE SCALP TO BE ALLOWED BACK IN CLASS. 2ND SHAMPOO, 7-10 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST ONE; CHILD MAY COME TO HEALTH ROOM ON OWN WITH BOXTOP. CLASSMATES OF AFFECTED CHILDREN ARE CHECKED ONCE. COATS, BACKPACKS DO NOT HAVE TO BE BAGGED OR SEPARATED.