Head Lice

Head lice are common in school aged children. Lice are primarily spread through direct head-to-head contact or through shared items like hats and hair brushes. Lice do not jump or fly and transmission is unlikely to occur during school. 

Signs and Symptoms:

• Itchy or red scalp

• Nits (eggs) attached to hair or adult lice which can be seen most easily behind ears or at the nape of the neck

• Lice are most active at night which can lead to trouble sleeping

Hair Treatment:

• Use over-the-counter (OTC) medication such as RID or NIX to treat lice. Is is recommended to avoid regular shampoo for several day to allow time for treatment to work. 

• After treatment, section the hair and pick nits using a metal nit comb

• Have the infested person put on clean clothing after treatment

• 7 days after treatment, check to see if lice are still present. Repeat treatment if necessary.

Cleaning your surroundings:

• Soak all brushes, combs and hair accessories for at least 20 minutes in hot water

• Machine wash all washable clothing and bed linens that the infested person used 2 days before treatment. 

• Store clothing, stuffed animals, and other bedding that is unable to be washed in a tightly sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks.

• Vaccuum all carpeted areas, mattresses, and upholstered furniture in the home. Repeat daily for 1 week. 

Additional information: 

Treatment of lice with remedies such as oils, mayonnaise, or petroleum jelly is not approved by the FDA and therefore the effectiveness of these remedies is uncertain. 

For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/lice/treatment/