Marlton Elementary

What are head lice?

Head lice are wingless insects about the size of a sesame seed that are tan in color. The eggs (called nits) hold on tightly to the hair making them difficult to remove. Head lice crawl and can only be spread by direct contact. They thrive in a warm, moist, and dark environment particularly behind the ears and at the base of the scalp behind the neck.

How do head lice spread? (Johns Hopkins Medicine)

Head lice don’t jump, they don’t live on pets and they have nothing to do with personal hygiene. The most common way head lice spread is by head-to-head contact. This means your child must have been touching heads with someone who has head lice. This may happen during sports, slumber parties or play time in or outside of school.

A less likely way to get head lice is by sharing personal items that touch the head, such as hats, hair brushes and hair accessories. Head lice need to have a blood meal every 12 to 24 hours, so they can’t survive away from a human head for longer than a day. 

What are the symptoms of lice?

• Intense itching of the scalp particularly around the ears and the back of the neck which is the result of an allergic reaction to the bites of the head louse.

• Tiny white specks on the hair that are hard to remove

 

Understanding OTC (over the counter) lice treatment products. (Johns Hopkins Medicine)

Your first line of defense against head lice is an over-the-counter (OTC) head lice treatment that typically comes in the form of shampoo. The main difference between various products is the active ingredient and which stages of head lice it kills. Most OTC head lice treatments don’t kill nits, so a second application may be necessary to kill the nymphs once they hatch.


Treatment Directions (CDC- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

1. Before applying the medication, remove clothing that can become wet or stained before treatment.
2. Use the lice medicine as directed on the box or label. If you have shoulder-length hair or longer, you might need a second bottle. Follow instructions for applying the medication. Pay special attention to how long to leave it on the hair, and how it should be washed out.
3. Have the infested person put on clean clothing after treatment.
4. If you notice a few lice still moving slowly 8 – 12 hours after treatment, you do not need to reapply the medicine. It takes time to kill all the lice. Use a fine comb to remove any dead or remaining live lice from the hair.
5. If, 8 – 12 hours after treatment, you do not find any dead lice, or the lice seem as active as before treatment, the medicine may not be working. Talk to your healthcare provider before re-treating. They may suggest a different medicine.
6. Use nit combs to remove nits and lice from the hair shaft. Flea combs made for cats and dogs are also effective.
7. After each treatment, check hair and remove nits and lice every 2 – 3 days for the next 2 – 3 weeks. You do not need to remove nits when treating with spinosad topical suspension.
8. Follow your medication's instructions for retreatment.

Additional Tips (Johns Hopkins Medicine)

If you tried an OTC head lice treatment that didn’t work and you are certain that your child didn’t get reinfested, seek professional help. It’s possible that you are dealing with head lice that are resistant to the active ingredient in your treatment product. Consult with your pediatrician or contact a pediatric dermatologist for a prescription head lice treatment.

Additional measures (CDC)

Head lice do not survive long if they fall off a person and cannot feed. Follow these steps to help avoid re–infestation by lice that have recently fallen off the hair or crawled onto clothing or furniture:

1. Machine wash and dry clothes, beddings, and items used by the infested person in the two days before treatment. Use hot water (130°F) and high heat drying. If you can’t wash or dry clean items, seal them in a plastic bag for two weeks.
2. Soak combs and brushes in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5 – 10 minutes.
3. Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay. However, the risk of getting lice by a louse that has fallen onto a rug or carpet or furniture is very small.
4. Do not use fumigant sprays or fogs. They can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

It is important to continue monitoring your child's scalp for 2 weeks after initial treatment and thoroughly combing through their hair using a nit-comb!

Treatment issues (CDC)

The following reasons may cause treatment for head lice to fail:

• Misdiagnosis

• Recent application of combination shampoo/conditioner or conditioner to hair

• Not following treatment instructions

• Head lice resisting the medication

• Reinfestation after successful treatment

The CDC does not have scientific evidence that suffocating head lice with mayonnaise, olive oil, margarine, butter, or similar substances is an effective form of treatment.

Resources
Johns Hopkins Medicine "No Panic Guide to Head Lice Treatment"  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/no-panic-guide-to-head-lice-treatment
CDC "Treatment of Head Lice" https://www.cdc.gov/lice/treatment/index.html
Lice Happens (professional lice treatment) https://licehappens.com/locations/lice-treatment-marlton-new-jersey/