What are head lice What are head lice ((Pediculus Humanus Capitis)Pediculus Humanus Capitis)??

Head lice are small parasitic Head lice are small parasitic insects. Head lice insects. Head lice onlyonly live on live on humanhuman scalps. They feed on scalps. They feed on human blood and without it human blood and without it they can’t survive. They feed they can’t survive. They feed several times during several times during a 24 hour period.a 24 hour period.

Head lice can only live for 24 hours off the human head away from its meal of human blood!

Lice vocabularyLice vocabularyLouse – a single adultLouse – a single adultNits – lice eggsNits – lice eggsLice – more than one Lice – more than one louselouse

What do Head Lice look like?What do Head Lice look like?

Adult Head Lice are 2 – 3mm in Adult Head Lice are 2 – 3mm in length (about the size of a sesame length (about the size of a sesame seed)seed)

They are tan or grey-white and have They are tan or grey-white and have six legs, each with a clawsix legs, each with a claw

Where do head lice come from?

Head lice do not come out of the air or Head lice do not come out of the air or from the ground. They are human from the ground. They are human

parasites and have probably been here parasites and have probably been here since the beginning of time. since the beginning of time.

Desiccated (dried up) head lice and Desiccated (dried up) head lice and their eggs (nits) have been their eggs (nits) have been

found on the hair and scalps of found on the hair and scalps of Egyptian mummies.Egyptian mummies.

How are head lice spread?How are head lice spread?

Head lice Head lice are spread are spread from one from one person to person to another by another by close head-close head-to-head to-head contact.contact.

There is also the possibility of There is also the possibility of spreading head lice from backs of spreading head lice from backs of

chairs, sofas, car seats, chairs, sofas, car seats, mattresses, pillows or similar items.mattresses, pillows or similar items.

Lice can also be Lice can also be spread through spread through sharing hats, sharing hats,

towels, combs, towels, combs, brushes, brushes,

helmets, hair helmets, hair bows, etc.bows, etc.

Can I catch head lice in a pool?Can I catch head lice in a pool?

Swimming with someone who has lice Swimming with someone who has lice carries no greater risk of transmission than carries no greater risk of transmission than any other activity.any other activity.

When lice are in water, they remain firmly When lice are in water, they remain firmly locked onto the hair – literally hanging on locked onto the hair – literally hanging on for dear life.for dear life.

This is how they survive regular This is how they survive regular shampooing and swimmingshampooing and swimming

Can head lice jump or Can head lice jump or fly?fly?

~Head lice do ~Head lice do not have hind not have hind legs to hop or legs to hop or jump. jump. ~They also do ~They also do not have wings not have wings and cannot fly.and cannot fly.

Important Head Lice Facts:Important Head Lice Facts:

Because Head Lice cannot jump or fly, Because Head Lice cannot jump or fly, they crawl from one they crawl from one

person to another using person to another using their claws to grab onto hairtheir claws to grab onto hair

Head lice are NOT spreadHead lice are NOT spread from dogs, cats or other petsfrom dogs, cats or other pets

Another important Head Lice fact!Another important Head Lice fact!

Personal hygiene and Personal hygiene and the cleanliness of your the cleanliness of your

home or school home or school DODO NOTNOT have anything to do with have anything to do with

whether you get licewhether you get lice

Who’s most at risk for Head Lice?Who’s most at risk for Head Lice?

Kids in daycareKids in daycarePreschool and Elementary school childrenPreschool and Elementary school childrenFamily members of children who have liceFamily members of children who have liceGirls are more likely than boys to get lice Girls are more likely than boys to get lice (more likely to share hair (more likely to share hair

items, close head-to-head items, close head-to-head contact and usually contact and usually have longer hair)have longer hair)

Lice have a life span of around 30 days

Size of Nit, Nymph and Adult Louse Size of Nit, Nymph and Adult Louse as as

compared to a penny and matchcompared to a penny and match

What are the signs and symptoms What are the signs and symptoms of head lice? You may feel:of head lice? You may feel:

A tickling feeling of something A tickling feeling of something moving in the hair (lice crawling)moving in the hair (lice crawling)

Itching (caused by an allergic Itching (caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of lice reaction to the bites of lice feeding off the blood in the feeding off the blood in the scalp) much like mosquito bitesscalp) much like mosquito bites

Sores on the scalp (cause by Sores on the scalp (cause by scratching)scratching)

Head lice normally prefer the Head lice normally prefer the following areas of the head:following areas of the head:

Over the ears and the nape of the neck (the warmest areas of the scalp)

If you think you have head If you think you have head lice:lice:

If you are at school, tell your teacherIf you are at school, tell your teacher

The School Nurse will check your head for The School Nurse will check your head for head lice and nitshead lice and nits

If you are at home, tell an adult and notify If you are at home, tell an adult and notify your school if lice are foundyour school if lice are found

School Nurse checking for School Nurse checking for Head Lice and NitsHead Lice and Nits

1)The School Nurse will look for live head lice and fresh nits to confirm an active infestation.2)If possible, a live louse will be placed on a piece of tape and placed under the microscope as confirmation of head lice for the student’s parent/guardian.

If I have head If I have head lice, what do I do?lice, what do I do?

Don’t PanicDon’t PanicThe School Nurse will call the The School Nurse will call the parent/guardian to pick student up for parent/guardian to pick student up for Head Lice TreatmentHead Lice TreatmentIf parent/guardian has any questions, If parent/guardian has any questions, School Nurse can provide information School Nurse can provide information for Head Lice Treatmentfor Head Lice Treatment

What can be used to treat lice and nits?What can be used to treat lice and nits?

Wayne County School Health Wayne County School Health recommends using Olive Oilrecommends using Olive Oil

1. Apply generous amount of Olive oil 1. Apply generous amount of Olive oil to scalp and hair massaging well.to scalp and hair massaging well.

2. Cover head with shower cap and 2. Cover head with shower cap and leave the oil on at least 8 hrs.leave the oil on at least 8 hrs.

3. After 8 hours with the oil still on the 3. After 8 hours with the oil still on the head, comb with a regular comb to head, comb with a regular comb to remove dead liceremove dead lice

4. Remove nits from hair (‘Nit Picking’)4. Remove nits from hair (‘Nit Picking’)

5. Shampoo hair5. Shampoo hair

6. Repeat Oil and “Nit Picking” 6. Repeat Oil and “Nit Picking” treatment every 4 days for 3 weeks.treatment every 4 days for 3 weeks.

No Nits!!!No Nits!!!

Why the “No Nit” Policy?Why the “No Nit” Policy?Nits are the eggs of head lice. Nits are oval-shaped eggs that are glued to the hair shaft close to the scalp (within ¼” of the scalp). Fresh nits appear dark. You cannot “catch nits”. Nits must be laid by live lice. Once laid, it takes 7-10 days for a nit to hatch, and another 7-10 days for the female to mature and begin laying her own eggs. Thus the “No Nit” policy. Any surviving nits will hatch into crawling lice within 7 -10 days, generating a cycle of reinfestation. Removing all nits insures complete treatment!

If any nits are left in the hair…

Don’t take the risk!

If olive oil is not used, use a If olive oil is not used, use a pesticide-free treatmentpesticide-free treatment

Non-toxic, safe, Non-toxic, safe, odorless and odorless and hypoallergenichypoallergenic

Simply follow Simply follow directions in directions in

packagepackage

Mom treating childMom treating child

Using Lice Comb to Using Lice Comb to remove lice and nitsremove lice and nits

Everyone checking for Everyone checking for lice/nits!lice/nits!

More important tips to get rid of More important tips to get rid of LiceLice

Vacuum all areas where head has rested (backs of Vacuum all areas where head has rested (backs of chairs, sofas, car seats, mattresses, pillows, carpet, chairs, sofas, car seats, mattresses, pillows, carpet, etc)etc)Disinfect hair products such as combs, brushes, Disinfect hair products such as combs, brushes, and hair accessories by soaking in hot, soapy water and hair accessories by soaking in hot, soapy water for at least 20 minutesfor at least 20 minutesPlace stuffed toys in plastic bag and seal for 2 wksPlace stuffed toys in plastic bag and seal for 2 wksWash all bed linens, clothing, hats, caps, jackets Wash all bed linens, clothing, hats, caps, jackets and scarves in detergent and hottest water safe for and scarves in detergent and hottest water safe for fabricfabricThen……..Then……..

Dry in dryer on hottest Dry in dryer on hottest setting for 20 minutes!setting for 20 minutes!

Before returning to class:Before returning to class:

Your school nurse must re-check your head Your school nurse must re-check your head to make sure all lice and nits are goneto make sure all lice and nits are gone

If your head has no lice or nits, If your head has no lice or nits, you may return to classyou may return to class

What can I do to What can I do to prevent Head Lice?prevent Head Lice?

For students ~ Remember:For students ~ Remember:

Never share helmets, hats, brushes, Never share helmets, hats, brushes, combs (or any hair accessory)combs (or any hair accessory)

If you think you have head lice, tell If you think you have head lice, tell your teacher or the school nurse your teacher or the school nurse

If a friend tells you he/she has head If a friend tells you he/she has head lice, tell your teacher or the school lice, tell your teacher or the school nursenurse

For Parents ~For Parents ~ Remember the Remember the best tip for Lice Control!best tip for Lice Control!

All parents All parents should look should look

through their through their child’s hair child’s hair

regularly for regularly for lice and nitslice and nits

Notify School Nurse if lice or nits are found!

New Product that claims to New Product that claims to repel head lice (not a lice repel head lice (not a lice

treatment) treatment) Shampoo, Conditioner Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave-in Sprayand Leave-in Spray

Lice and Nits ~ Go Lice and Nits ~ Go Away!Away!

Without you here, it’s a better day!

How much do you know about lice?How much do you know about lice?Let’s take the Head Lice Quiz!Let’s take the Head Lice Quiz!

http://www.headlice.org/kids/headgames/qhttp://www.headlice.org/kids/headgames/quiz/quiz1.htmuiz/quiz1.htm