October 14, 2007 Hello! For many, just the thought of head lice makes their skin crawl and their heads itch. Just the fact that anyone can get head lice, and lice can spread easily where groups of people gather makes them an issue in schools.
"Because lice are parasites, they will set up house on
anyone's head, whether that person is clean, dirty, in
second grade, in fifth grade, black, or white. Anyone who
says that people who get lice are dirty doesn't know that
lice love everyone and that includes the cleanest kid in
the class!" Lice can spread in schools, but they can also spread in other places where there are groups of people.
"While some parents believe schools are a prime location
for the transmission of head lice, the parasite is just as
likely to be passed on at other places, including movie
theaters and slumber parties. Head lice are spread by
direct contact with infested people or materials. Lice
don't spread disease and aren't dangerous, but their bites
may cause an itchy and inflamed scalp and persistent
scratching may lead to skin irritation and even infection." In addition to spending time together, friends and teammates often share hair brushes and clothing. This helps the lice travel from person to person.
"Anyone can get head lice, but they are more common among
school-aged children. Head lice spread more easily among
children 3 to 12 years of age because they share their
belongings more often than adults and play close together.
... Head lice are very contagious. No matter how many times
you or your child takes a shower or washes his or her hair,
it's still possible to get head lice from head-to-head
contact with someone who is already infested with lice. You
can also get head lice if you share hats, towels, pillows,
combs or brushes with someone who has head lice." While most people have heard of lice, not everyone who has had lice knows what they are.
"A louse is a parasite (say: par-uh-site), which means it
feeds off of other living things. Lice (the word for more
than one louse) are about the size of a sesame seed, and
are tan to gray in color. ... It's very easy for a person
with lice to give it to another person when they come into
close head-to-head contact with each other... Lice cannot
jump or fly, so a person can't catch lice by simply sitting
near someone who has lice." "[A] person can't catch lice by simply sitting near someone who has lice." This is a common misconception.
"There are many misconceptions about head lice. They do not
transmit communicable diseases. They do not jump or fly;
they can only crawl. Head lice depend completely on their
host for nourishment; their only source of food is human
blood. The prevalence of head lice infestation is no
different in individuals with long hair than in those with
short hair. Head lice seldom occur on eyebrows or
eyelashes. They infest persons from all socioeconomic
levels, without regard for age, race, sex or standards of
personal hygiene. Animals are not a source of human lice." As there are misconceptions about how lice are spread, there are also misconceptions about how to get rid of head lice.
"Head lice can be treated with over-the-counter or
prescription products. Shampoos and lotions that kill head
lice contain pesticides and other chemicals, so it is
important to talk to your doctor before using these
products, especially if you are pregnant or nursing, or if
you have allergies or asthma. It is also not safe to use
products with pesticides on or near your eyes. If you find
head lice or nits in eyelashes or brows, talk to your
doctor. The products that kill head lice don't usually kill
all nits. To reduce the risk of another lice infestation,
pick the remaining lice and nits by hand or by using a
special comb (one brand name: LiceMeister comb) to remove
them. Comb through all of the hair one section at a time
every 3 days or more often, for at least 2 weeks or until
you stop seeing head lice and nits. You should also use hot
water to wash any bed linens, towels and clothing recently
worn by the person who had head lice. Vacuum anything that
can't be washed such as the couch, carpets, your child's
car seat and any stuffed animals. Because head lice don't
live very long away from the scalp, you don't need to use
lice spray on these items."
Questions of the Week: Please email me with any ideas or suggestions. I look forward to reading what you have to say. Cindy |
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