Head Lice prevention

Head Lice Prevention

Head lice isn't particular; it will infect anyone going across all income and/or social levels, homeless or not, male or female, young or old. The good news is that head lice itself doesn't usually carry a serious disease.

Facts about head lice

The bugs can stay alive for 6 hours in water.

They appear as tiny white, brown or dark gray specks in your hair.

Lice (louse is the singular term) have 6 legs and cling to the scalp and neck area.

They are the size of a sesame seed (2-3 mm long)

Lice eggs are called nits which are basically glued onto the hair shaft.

The nits are round or oval.

Lice feed on blood.

Lice are spread through direct head to head contact.

Lice can survive for a short while on brushes and hats etc but can't jump or fly. They can crawl.

Itching is the most common issue with lice.

Itching is an allergic reaction to the bug bite.

Call your doctor is the skin becomes red, swollen or painful or the neck lymph nodes are tender.

An estimated 6-12 million 3-11 year olds each year in the US are infected.

If head lice is found

If someone in your house has head lice:

Call your doctor

Call your child's school or day care.

Examine family members.

There are prescription and over the counter (OTC) products. Two treatments may be needed.

Clothing worn within the past 48 hours should be washed in hot water.

Plush toys may be put in dryers for 30 minutes if manufacturer has OK'd the use of dryers on their product.

For more information go to

http://www.webmd.com/children/ss/slideshow-lice-overview.

The CDC (the Center for Disease Control and Prevention) is another great resource.