The Facts of Lice

Head lice….Typically words that no parent wants to hear. Anyone can get head lice, however, children are more commonly affected by these small pests. They attach to the hair shaft and feed on blood from the scalp, causing itchiness. Having head lice is not a sign of being dirty or unclean. Head lice are generally not harmful; however they are extremely inconvenient and contagious when they occur. Most people don’t even know they are infested until live lice or nits are seen. Effective treatment requires a little time, patience and following directions. To treat and prevent lice, it helps to know more about them. The following information obtained from www.nixlice.com discusses is helpful to separate fact from fiction:

MYTH: Having lice is a sign of poor hygiene…. Lice actually prefer clean hair. They spread through close contact or sharing hats, helmets, brushes, pillows, and other personal items

MYTH: Lice can fly or jump…… Lice can only crawl. They do not have wings. Once they attach to hair, they cling firmly.

MYTH: Lice cannot survive away from the human body……..Lice can actually live for about 48 hours away from a human scalp. Their nits (or eggs), can survive without body heat for about 10 days.

MYTH: Lice can live on pets…….Lice only feed on human blood. However, pets can act as a “transport” for lice to get from one person’s hair to another if there’s close contact.

MYTH: Head lice are hard to treat……There are clinically proven treatments that eliminate lice and their eggs. It is important to follow the directions according to the product description.

Signs of Lice: The most common symptom of head lice is itching caused by the lice feeding on the scalp. Live lice are very small and can be difficult to see. They are about the size of a sesame seed and are tan, brown, or gray. Live lice are commonly seen crawling at the top of the head. Lice eggs are called nits. Nits are easier to see than lice because they are attached to the shaft of the hair and there are many more of them. Look for tiny, white, oval-sized eggs attached to the hair near the scalp. They are commonly seen behind the ears and around the nape of the neck. They may look like dandruff, but they cannot be removed from the hair by shaking, brushing or washing them.

Treatment: If your child has head lice, you will want to take quick action. Effective treatment includes using an over-the-counter medicated product as directed, removing nits with a fine-tooth comb and treating the environment.

More information regarding tips, products and treatment is available at www.nixlice.com

Additional information is available at:

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/headlice/index.html