How to Get Rid of Head Lice
An Infestation of Lice Causes Disrpution to Homes and Schools
Oct 10, 2009
When the dreaded letter comes home from school stating, "a child in your child's classroom has lice," many people experience fear and confusion. Learn about lice to understand how to manage an infestation if it should happen in your school or home.
What is Lice?
Lice are parasites that require human blood for survival. This six-legged bug will die within 24-36 hours if not attached to a human. Lice cannot survive on pets, so people can not "catch lice" from a pet. Lice do not jump or fly. They are crawling insects. Typically they live on the human head, but lice have been discovered in eyebrows and eyelashes.
Head lice are not known to carry disease or to cause a life-threatening illness. Anyone can get lice. It is not a sign of poor hygiene or uncleanliness.
How Do You Get Head Lice?
Since lice do not jump, they are passed by direct contact with someone who has lice. Avoid the following with someone who is known to have a case of lice.
- hair to hair contact
- sharing combs, brushes, barrettes, towels, hats, wigs, hair bands
- lying on carpets, upholstered furniture or bedding that contains lice or nits
Since someone ma be unaware they have lice, it is best to keep hair items and pillows for personal use and avoid sharing as a general rule.
Signs and Symptoms of Head Lice
Signs of head lice may be obvious or subtle. Watch for these symptoms and investigate further if necessary:
- intense itching and persistent scratching of the head.
- presence of tiny (sesame seed size) brown bugs on the scalp.
- small red bumps resembling a rash on the scalp, behind the ears, on shoulders or at nape of neck.
- presence of tiny white specks, which are the lice eggs, called nits, attached to the hair shaft at the scalp that can not be easily brushed away. Nits resemble dandruff, but can't be easily brushed away.
Diagnosis of Head Lice
To diagnose head lice, put on disposable gloves and look at the hair and scalp under a bright light. A magnifying glass may be helpful. Part hair down to the scalp and search for tiny brown bugs or white eggs (nits). Go over the entire head, paying special attention to areas behind the ears and along the neckline.
How to Treat a Lice Infestation
It can be overwhelming to treat an infestation of lice. Every nit (egg) and every louse must be removed or the cycle can begin again.
- Wash all clothes and bed linens in hot water (130° F/54.4° Celsius) with detergent. Put the clothing in the dryer on the highest heat for at least 20 minutes.
- Dry clean clothing or bed linens that cannot be machine washed.
- Clothing, linens, bean bag chairs or stuffed animals that can't be washed should be secured tightly in a bag and not removed for two weeks.
- Soak all hair items (brushes, combs, barrettes, hairbands, etc.) in rubbing alcohol for one hour.
- Use a special comb called a nit comb to remove all lice and nits.
- There are medicated shampoos, conditioners and lotions to get rid of lice. Talk to the family doctor about these treatments as they are insecticides and should be used with great care.
- Vacuum all carpets and furniture in the home and car(s).
- For those who want professional help to deal with head lice, contact a mobile lice removal service. These businesses are found in many major cities. Professionals come to the home or school and assist with lice and nit removal.
Be patient when treating for head lice. It can be challenging to remove all lice, and even one can cause another infestation. Stay vigilant and contact the doctor if lice are still present after two weeks.
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