Prevention

Do Kids Have to Stay Home From School?

In the past, kids with head lice were kept home from school. But now doctors don't recommend these "no-nit" policies. In most cases, a child who has lice should stay at school until the end of the day, go home and get treatment, and return to school the next day. While they are at school, kids should avoid head-to-head contact with other kids. It can help to put long hair up in a bun, braid, or ponytail.

Can We Prevent Head Lice?

To get rid of head lice and their eggs, and to help prevent them from coming back:

• Wash all bed linens, stuffed animals, and clothing used during the 2 days before treatment (any lice that fell off before that will not be alive). Wash in very hot water (130°F [54.4°C]), then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.

• Dry clean items that can't be washed. Or put them in airtight bags for 2 weeks.

• Vacuum carpets and any upholstered furniture (in your home or car), and throw away the vacuum cleaner bag.

• Soak hair-care items like combs, barrettes, hair ties or bands, headbands, and brushes in hot water or throw them away. Tell kids not to share these items.

• Because lice easily pass from person to person in the same house, check all family members. Treat everyone who has lice so they won't pass it back and forth.

• Tell kids to try to avoid head-to-head contact at school (in gym, on the playground, or during sports) and while playing at home with other children.

• Every 3 or 4 days, check kids who had close contact with a person who has lice. Then, treat any who have lice or nits close to the scalp.

Will They Ever Be Gone?

As many parents know, fighting head lice can be an ongoing battle. There's no doubt that they can be hard bugs to get rid of.

If you've tried everything and your child still has lice, it could be because:

• some nits were left behind (if you see nits far from the scalp — more than ½ inch (1 cm) — and no live lice, these are probably dead and treatment likely isn't needed)

• your child is still around someone who has lice

• the treatment you're using isn't effective

If your child has lice 2 weeks after you started treatment or if your child's scalp looks infected, call your doctor.

There are professional lice treatment centers that remove lice and nits for a fee. These services are effective but often costly.

What Else Should I Know?

Remind your child that while having lice can be embarrassing, anyone can get them. Having head lice is not a sign of dirtiness or poor hygiene. The pesky little bugs can be a problem no matter how often kids do — or don't — wash their hair or bathe.

Dealing with head lice can be frustrating, but be patient. Follow the treatments and prevention tips from your doctor, and soon your family will be lice-free.

Here is the full article on kidshealth.org found here: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/head-lice.html 

What is the best prevention for lice?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are ways to reduce the chance of getting lice, but it has more to do with behaviors than products.

To prevent the spread of lice, you should avoid sharing:

• Clothing and accessories that touch your hair: This includes scarves, hats, uniforms, bands, and coats.

• Toiletries and hair tools: This includes towels, brushes, and combs. If you or your child has lice, disinfect any hair tools by washing them with soap and very hot water.

• Personal belongings: Keep your belongings separate from anyone else’s until the lice infestation is completely treated.

• Bed, mattress, or pillows: Avoid sharing these items when there’s a lice infestation.

Other tips include the following:

• Machine-wash all linen or clothing with hot water and dry on high heat. If you have clothes that can’t be washed, you can dry-clean them or store them in a sealable plastic bag for 2 weeks.

• Vacuum all furniture and floors where someone with lice has been.

• Check your family for lice for several weeks after completing treatment. 

• Continue to routinely check hair for lice as part of your normal hygiene routine.