It’s a phone call no parent wants to get: “Mrs. Smith, you need to pick up your daughter from school. She has head lice.”
The little buggers are common, unfortunately. Up to 12 million kids between ages 3 and 11 become infested every year in the U.S., according to an American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report. It has nothing to do with cleanliness, hygiene or income level””anyone can get them. They’re not dangerous, but they can be a real hassle to get rid of.
Here are some things you should know about head lice:
“¢ Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp and hair.
“¢ They’re contracted primarily by head-to-head contact.
“¢ They can live away from a human head for up to 48 hours and may also be transmitted by contact with bedding, clothing, combs and more.
“¢ They move by crawling; head lice can’t hop or fly.
“¢ Pets do not transmit head lice.
“¢ Nits are lice eggs; they attach to the hair shaft and take 7-10 days to hatch.
“¢ Head lice shampoo (to kill live bugs) and manual removal of nits are the most common treatments.
“¢ Shampoo does not kill nits; they must be removed from the hair shaft manually.
“¢ Carefully follow instructions for shampoo treatment. Retreatment is required after a few days.
“¢ Machine wash bedding, clothing and towels in hot water (130 degrees F) after treating child.
“¢ Fabric items that have come in contact with an infected person may also be sealed in airtight plastic bags for two weeks to kill lice.
“¢ Some people have had success “suffocating” lice with olive oil, tea tree oil, mayonnaise or Vaseline. These substances can be hard to remove from a child’s hair after application, so take caution if you try one of these methods.
Over-the-counter lice treatments are typically powerful pesticides, so always consult with a physician before treating your child. Vitacost.com carries several natural, non-toxic lice removal products, including herb-based shampoos and combing devices. Type “lice” in the Search Box on our home page to view the full selection.