HEAD LICE
Head
lice live on the skin among the hairs on people's head. They glue eggs ("nits")
to the base of the hair shaft, frequently behind the ears or on the nape
of the neck. Nits hatch in about 5-10 days and the light-colored nymphs
begin feeding immediately. Development takes about 18-20 days; adults can
live for about one month. Head lice can infest clothing and other items
that come in contact with the head (e.g., hats, shirt collars, brushes,
combs, etc.), but they do not survive off of a person for more than
24 hours.
Head lice have little real medical impact. Their feeding activity irritates the scalp, causing intense itching. They are not known to transmit any disease organisms, but a secondary infection may result if the skin is broken by repeatedly scratching the area. The most notable impact of head lice is the personal embarrassment experienced with being identified publicly as having lice (e.g., in a classroom). Children, particularly those of elementary school age, are most likely to get head lice because of their close contact and social interactions with each other (e.g., sharing hats, combs and brushes) creates opportunities for the lice to be spread among them. Children who become infested in school will carry lice home and may infest family members who unknowingly become a source for recurring louse problems in the home.
Solving the Problem
Solving head lice problems is not difficult if everyone cooperates. Parents should notify the school principal or nurse immediately if their child is identified as having head lice. Don't be embarrassed by the problem and hesitate about calling the school. Remember two very important points. First, just because your child has head lice does not necessarily mean that he/she is the source of the problem. Second, and most importantly, if school officials do not take any action because they are unaware of the problem, lice will likely spread to other children in the class. If the problem continues unchecked, eventually even those children who were treated previously become reinfested and they must be subjected to treatment again. Parents, school administrators, teachers and other school staff should
handle these situations discretely, being sensitive to the children's
situation which is difficult enough for them without the problem becoming
a matter for public discussion. Children exhibiting symptoms of head lice
(excessive head scratching and/or abrasions on the scalp) need to be checked
for the presence of nits or lice by someone who can positively identify
the eggs or the insects. The whitish-to-cream colored eggs are small (about
1 mm) and oval with a distinct cap. To the unaided eye, nits can easily
be confused with dandruff, globules of hair oil or even dried flakes of
hairspray. Upon closer examination with a magnifying glass, the eggs are
more easily recognized. On average, the actual number of head lice found
on a person is low: about 5-10. Therefore, careful inspection of the head,
particularly along the back of the neck and around the ears is important.
Another useful way to check for lice is to have the person hold their
head over a light-colored towel or piece of cardboard, then brush their
hair and scalp vigorously towards the towel. Dislodged lice should be
visible on the towel. Once a louse infestation is confirmed, you should
take the appropriate control measures.
The extent of delousing activities in a school depends largely on the age of the students and the layout of the classroom. As in the home, vacuuming carpeting and/or sleeping mats can help. Mats with vinyl or other non-fabric coverings can be cleaned with hot, soapy water. Clothing or personal items that students leave in closets, storage areas or desks should be removed and cleaned. Application of insecticides in the classroom is not necessary.