Facts 

What are lice?

Lice the plural form of louse are tiny six-legged insects that cling to the scalp and neck and feed on human blood. Each louse is about the size of a sesame seed and can be hard to spot. Lice eggs, called nits, are glued onto hairs near the scalp and can be even harder to see. The most prevalent kind of lice is head lice. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it is  estimated that up to 12 million lice infestations occur every year in the United States.

The life cycle of a louse?

A single female adult louse can lay up to six eggs (also called nits) each day. The eggs are glued on to the hair shaft by secretions from the female louse. The eggs take about a week to hatch into nymphs. The nymphs  go through three successive growth spurts. During these spurts, they molt until they reach adult size.  Adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed and can be very hard to see, because they can be any color from white to tan to brown. Lice typically feed on blood four to five times each day. They use their mouthparts to bite into the skin and secrete a substance that acts to block clotting.

How do you get lice?

While it’s important to note that lice infestations can happen to anyone, some people are at a higher risk of coming into contact with lice.  Lice usually spreads through direct head-to-head contact that allows the lice to crawl from one person’s head to another’s. Lice can also survive for a short period on clothing or other personal items, so a shared hairbrush can help a louse find a new host. Lice cannot jump or fly from one person to another. 

How did you know if you have Head Lice?

The most obvious way of knowing you have head lice is spotting a live louse or nymph (a young louse) and many times it may be the only sign of an infestation. Seeing nits alone doesn’t confirm an infestation. In many children, head lice don’t cause any discomfort. When symptoms do happen, the most common problem is itching that may start weeks or even months after the lice move in. The bug bites can cause intense  itching in some people. A lot of scratching can lead to sores or raw skin on the scalp. These may be signs of a skin infection. Call a doctor quickly if the skin becomes red, swollen, or painful or the lymph nodes in the neck become tender. 

What do you do if you Suspect Head Lice?

Head lice will not go away on their own. If you suspect your child has an infestation, there are several steps you should take right away. Call your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. Notify your child’s daycare

 or school so other students can be checked. Examine all other members of the household for signs of lice. Finally, treat everyone who’s infected at the same time.

How do you  get rid of Head Lice?

There are lots of over the counter lice-killing treatments, check out  Lice Zappers Top 5 Lice Treatments. They are often made from extracts from chrysanthemum or versions made synthetically. While most are considered safe,  they may not be recommended for young children, so be sure to read all labels before applying on young children. Sometimes lice are resistant to these. You may want to speak to your doctor about whether the lice in your area are resistant to OTC drugs. No matter what you decide to treat with, be sure to follow instructions on the label carefully for how long the medication should be left on the hair and how it should be washed off. A second treatment may be needed 7 to 10 days later.

What is the Fine-Toothed Comb for?

Nit combs  are another way to get rid of lice. Fine-toothed combs have been found in their tombs of ancient Egyptians.  They are most effective after treating with a medicated shampoo to get rid of any stragglers. This specially designed comb has teeth fine enough to pull out lice and their nits. The drawback is that it takes time and patience to comb every last nit out of a child’s hair. 

How can I prevent lice?

You are probably wondering if there is anything you can do to prevent your child from getting lice at school.  On its own, tea tree oil was the most effective treatment tested. Tea tree oil and peppermint appeared to be most useful for repelling lice. Tea tree oil and lavender were also found to prevent some feeding by lice on treated skin.