Head lice are small tan-colored insects that:
- Live on blood they draw from the scalp.
- Live for days to weeks depending on the temperature and humidity.
- Crawl. (They do not hop or fly)
- Deposit tiny, grey/white eggs known as nits on the hair shaft.
- Having lice can cause irritation and scratching, which may lead to a secondary infection.
- Itching of the skin where lice feed on the scalp.
- Nits may be glued to hair, easily seen behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.
- 7-12 days from laying to hatching of eggs.
- Contagious period: Until live lice are no longer present.
- Head to head contact with infested hair.
- Sharing hats, headgear and other objects that are in contact with the head.
- Only lice, not nits spread the infection.
- Lice medication.
- None of the suggested remedies using household products( salad oils, mayonnaise, petroleum jelly) have been shown to be effective.
- Articles that were in contact with infested individuals should be laundered in temperatures greater than 128.3 F and dried on the hot setting.
- Toys, personal articles, bedding, other fabrics should be laundered and upholstered furniture, carpets, floors and cloth seats of the car can be vacuumed.
- Head lice can only live 1 to 2 days away from the scalp.
- Please inform the nurse or teacher of a case of lice.