Head lice infestation is a common public health nuisance in the United States among children between the ages of 3-12 years. It is not considered a disease and for the most part does not cause illness.

Lice can be spread from person to person. Please check your child’s head for lice as explained below. If lice or nits are found, please follow the instructions given:

Kill the lice: You can do this with a chemical shampoo or any number of naturopathic methods. You can also smother the head lice by leaving mayonnaise covered by a shower cap on the head overnight. The shampoos do not necessarily kill all the nits or lice. Use them exactly as indicated.

Recognize the nits/eggs: They are shaped like tiny sesame seeds, are white to light grey and cannot be flicked off the hair like dandruff.

Get rid of the nits: This is the hard part. You can do this with a lice comb, your fingernails, or by cutting out the individual hairs with the nit or egg on them. The nits are attached by very strong glue, so they don’t just comb out. Set your child in front of the TV, turn on a bright light and prepare to pull nits out for at least two hours.

Clean the house and clothing: Wash the child’s bedding, clothing. Vacuum furniture, rugs, floors. Put stuffed toys etc. in the dryer for 30 minutes, or if this is impossible put them in a plastic bag for 2 weeks. Wash hairbrushes and combs in boiling soapy water.

Check other family members.

Inform the school and anyone else with whom your child has had contact.

Continue to check your child and family members for lice or nits every day. Try to get all the nits out before you send your child back to school. If they come to school with live lice, they will be sent home.

Prevention: Keep long swingy hair in braids or ponytails. The rest are wives tales...use a shampoo with T-tree oil in it; dry the hair with a hair dryer, put scented products in the hair. Tell your child not to share hats, combs etc.

Questions? Look on the internet or call Nurse Marie at school at 252-6087