TDC Health News

As your children head back to school, there are some health conditions that seem to incite lots of questions and concerns for parents. Head lice infestation is one that parents seem to approach with a certain amount of trepidation.

In the United States, head lice infestations are most common among preschool and elementary-aged children, as well as household members of those infested with the parasite. Head lice are parasitic insects that move by crawling. They are incapable of hopping or flying so they spread by close human-to-human, head-to-head contact. It is uncommon for lice to spread by the sharing of clothing or even hair brushes, although it is certainly possible. The adult louse lives off of the blood of its host for about 30 days, but it will die within 24-48 hours if it falls off of the human.

The adult head louse is about the size of a sesame seed. Adult female head lice attach their eggs close to the base of the hair shaft. The eggs, called nits, are pin-head sized, making them difficult to find. Often confused with dandruff or flakes of styling products, nits differ in that they are firmly attached to the hair and are within ¼ inch of the base of the hair shaft. Anything found that is attached further away from the scalp is probably not viable. Once the adult female louse has laid an egg, it will take about 8-9 days to hatch. Initially, the louse lives in a smaller "nymph" state until it matures into an adult in 9-12 days. The first signs of an infestation with head lice can differ. Sometimes there is a tickling sensation or the feeling of something moving on the scalp. These symptoms can be more common at night, as it is the time of day when the lice are more active. Depending on the level of reaction, those infected can develop sores or red swellings on the scalp, neck, or behind the ears.

Once an infestation has been established, it is important to inspect all members of a household and to treat all infected members at the same time. There are several over-the-counter, FDA-approved medications containing pyrethrins or permethrin that can be used when treating head lice. Before applying one of these products, make sure not to use a conditioner, as this will make the product less effective. Also, do not shampoo for 1-2 days afterwards. A second treatment around day 9 is recommended to kill any recently hatched lice that did not get killed when they were in the nit state. Supplements to these products would include combing the hair with a nit comb every 2 days for 10-14 days in order to remove nits. Nits are harder to treat with medication than the adult lice, so mechanically removing with a nit comb is important. Hair brushes and combs that were used by the affected person can be soaked in hot water that is at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Clothing worn within 2 days prior to noticing the infestation can be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. It may be prudent vacuum upholstery to remove hairs that may have fallen off the host's head.

If you have pursued over-the-counter treatment and continue to have problems, we are happy to help.