Head lice: An itchy nuisance

“If you notice your child scratching or complaining of something crawling on their heads, check them right away,” Swendsen said.

Another sign that can help parents determine whether their child has lice, is finding lice eggs attached to the child’s hair.

“Upon inspection, the eggs are easier to see than the bugs themselves,” Swendsen explained.

The eggs are small, oval shaped and usually a yellowish-white color and are firmly attached to the side of hair shafts.

“Because the louse makes a special cement-like substance to attach eggs to the hair shaft right next to the scalp, they must be removed with special fine-toothed comb,” Swendsen clarified.

The treatment for head lice is typically the use of a lice shampoo, and then removing the eggs with a lice comb. Wash clothing and bedding in hot water and vacuum to remove lice and eggs from furniture, carpets, stuffed animals, or anything that has come in contact with an infected head.

Swendsen noted that lice aren’t dangerous and they don’t spread disease, but they are contagious and can be a downright nuisance.

Lice need to be treated quickly because they are highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person, especially in group settings such as schools, child care centers, slumber parties, sports activities, and camps.

Though lice can’t fly or jump, these tiny insects have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair. They spread mainly through head-to-head contact, but sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats can also help pass them along. Swendsen said younger kids are most prone to catching lice because they tend to have close physical contact with each other and often share personal items.

Swendsen added that it is important for parents to remember that even if they treat their child’s infected head with the special shampoo, eggs must be removed or the lice will return.

“Within a week, any eggs left on the head will hatch and mature in just a few days to start the cycle all over again,” she said.

She also said that lice are not attracted to people with poor hygiene.

“There is a stigma about poor hygiene and lice,” she explained. “The two are not associated. Lice love clean little heads.”

Swendsen requested that parents who do find lice on their children to report it to school officials — who will keep the information confidential — right away.

“We just like to know when we need to up our education efforts and alert parents to be checking their children,” she said.

Children may return to school as soon as they’ve been treated. “They are not a threat,” Swendsen said of kids who have been infected.

While Swendsen has seen only one case of head lice this school year, but she was pleased to have not seen more.

“It has been a pretty good September,” she said.

For more information on lice or treatments, contact Swendsen at 283-2571 ext. 131 or visit www.licemd.com.

Simple ways to get rid of the lice and their eggs, and help prevent a lice reinfestation:

• Wash all bed linens and clothing that has been recently used by anyone who has lice in very hot water, then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.

• Have bed linens, clothing, and stuffed animals and plush toys that can’t be washed or dry-cleaned put in airtight bags for two weeks.

• Vacuum carpets and any upholstered furniture in the house or car.

• Soak hair-care items like combs, barrettes, hair ties or bands, headbands, and brushes in rubbing alcohol or medicated shampoo for one hour. They can also be washed in hot water or just thrown away.