If you have a child in school or daycare, you may occasionally receive notification that head lice have been found among your child's peers. Head lice can affect anyone but infestations more commonly occur in 3- to 12 year-old children. Although head lice are unattractive and may cause irritation, they are not dangerous. Treatments can be time-consuming and lengthy but with persistence, you will be able to eliminate head lice. It will not be necessary to cut your child's hair to do so.
Recognize Signs
Step 1
Identify head lice so you can remove every louse and egg. Head lice have wingless, flat bodies that are light tan or gray in color. When engorged with blood, they appear dark brown. Difficult to see, the adults are fast-moving and only the size of a sesame seed. Immature lice, called nymphs, are even smaller with translucent bodies.
Step 2
Look for nits. Although you might not be able to see the insects themselves, you will certainly see eggs in the hair of an affected person. Lice lay their eggs, known as nits, close to the scalp. Nits may be yellow, tan or brown and may be mistaken for dandruff except that they stick firmly to the hair shaft.
Step 3
Keep it in perspective. Remember that lice are not a sign of poor hygiene or an unclean home. Lice cannot be removed by washing or showering; they are so contagious, that even brief close contact with an affected person can result in transmission.
Minimize Transmission
Step 1
Keep your child home from school or daycare if you find lice or nits in his hair. Notify the school, as well as any after-school care facilities, church groups, sports teams and clubs, so that other children can be checked and treated.
Step 2
Prevent other family members from becoming infested by instructing your child not to share hats, scarves, hair accessories, combs, brushes, towels or bedding.
Step 3
Launder clothing, towels and bed linens in very hot, soapy water. Stuffed animals should be laundered, or if they are not laundry-safe, placed in an air-tight plastic bag for two weeks. Carpets, furniture, mattresses and car seats should be vacuumed. Keep in mind that head lice do not live very long when they are not near the scalp. Surfaces in your home are not likely to harbor lice after cleaning and vacuuming.
Consult Your Doctor
Step 1
Lice and nits are removed by wet combing, with or without pretreatment using lice-killing shampoo. Call your child's doctor to find out if a medicated shampoo or hair rinse is recommended. Although lice-killing shampoo is available without prescription, it should never be used without consulting a doctor. These products contain chemicals and pesticides and their safety depends on a number of factors including your child's age, weight and the frequency of use. If an adult in the home is pregnant or breast-feeding, these products may be unsafe. In addition, lice shampoos may cause complications in individuals with asthma or allergies. Discuss all of these factors with your doctor before beginning treatment. Prescription medicated shampoos are another option that may be safer for certain individuals.
Step 2
If a medicated shampoo is approved by your doctor, follow the instructions regarding frequency and application. Take care to keep the medication away from your child's eyes and mouth. Store the shampoo out of reach of children.
Step 3
After shampooing with regular or medicated products, apply conditioner and rinse your child's hair. Wetting the hair temporarily immobilizes the lice, making it easier to see and remove them. You are now ready to remove lice and nits by wet combing.
Combing Out Lice
Step 1
Find a comfortable place to sit with bright lighting. Wear disposable gloves while you work. A magnifying glass can be helpful for periodically checking for nits.
Step 2
Part the wet hair in small sections. Begin by placing the comb close to the scalp and then gently comb outward. A metal, fine-toothed comb that is made especially for nits will be the most effective. Check your local pet store if you have difficulty finding an appropriate comb.
Step 3
Repeat the wet combing process at least every three days. After the last live louse is seen, continue wet combing for another two weeks. Lice eggs hatch one to two weeks after they have been laid. To prevent re-infestation, you need to remove every nit and make sure that no newly hatched lice survive.
Things You'll Need
- Fine toothed nit comb
- Disposable gloves
- Conditioner
- Medicated shampoo or lotion, as recommended by your doctor
- Bright light
- Magnifying glass
- Cleaning supplies
- Vacuum
