Head lice continues to be a community problem. They do not cause disease but they are certainly a nuisance. The control of head lice requires the co-operative effort of parents, school personnel and health professionals.

What are head lice?

• Head lice are tiny, wingless bugs that live on the head.
• They feed on your blood.
• Head lice are about the size of a sesame seed and have six legs with tiny claws that can attach to hair.
• Head lice can change colour from light brown to gray and they are hard to see. Head lice do not fly or jump. They are spread by head-to-head contact.
• Hats, brushes and headgear can also spread head lice.
• Lice multiply and spread quickly.

What are nits?

• Head lice eggs are called nits. They are small, white, oval eggs.
• A nit is about 1/2 the size of a pin head.
• Nits are attached to one side of a hair at an angle.
• They are firmly attached with a glue-like bond.
• Nits hatch in about 10 days

How do I check for lice and nits?

• Itching and scratching are often the first signs.
• The only way to know if a person has head lice is to see lice or nits.
• Check all of the head, especially the area behind the ears, at the back of the neck and the top of the head.
• You might also see bites from lice and scratch marks from scratching.
• Nits can't be crushed in the hand or blown off the hair.
• Follow these steps while looking for lice or nits:
• Part the hair in small sections.
• Check from one side of the head to the other side.
• Check the entire head.

How do I treat for lice?

• Your drug store has products to treat lice.
• Always use the product according to the package directions or as directed by your pharmacist.
• Check for live lice 24-48 hours after treatment. Finding live lice at this stage may mean the lice were resistant to the product you used and you may need to use a different one. Speak to your health care professional for advice. (add)
• Repeat treatment seven to ten days later (as directed) to kill any newly hatched lice. Head lice products do not kill nits, so it is necessary to repeat the treatment a second time to kill any baby lice that hatch. (add)
• There is conflicting information about the need to remove nits. Studies have shown that it is not necessary to remove nits for treatment products to work.
• You may wish to remove nits for practical reasons. Some schools and daycares have “no nit” policies, meaning you may be required to remove all of the nits before your child can return. Removing nits also makes it easier to identify a reinfestation.

How do I prevent my child from getting head lice?

• Check once a week for head lice under good lighting.
• Keep long hair tied back.
• Do not share headgear such as hats, scarves, hair clips, sports helmets or headphones.
• Do not use other people's towels, combs or brushes.
• Items that have touched the head (hats, scarves, bedding, coats, towels, clothing) should be put in the dryer on the hot cycle for 20 minutes.
• Extra housecleaning and use of insecticide sprays are not needed.
• Notify friends and other community contacts.
• Know the policy for head lice at your school.

REMEMBER...LICE CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE!

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