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How
do I know if my children have head lice?
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The
tell-tale signs to look for are an itching scalp, the lice
themselves, whitish specks near the root of the hair (nits)
or a fine black powder on pillows. In case you're confused,
lice move around on the scalp and hair, while nits, which
are the eggs containing unborn lice, are affixed to the hair close
to the root.
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If
my child has head lice, is poor personal hygiene the cause?
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No.
Head lice can't tell if hair is clean or dirty. And they don't
care if it's brown or blonde, long or short, straight or curly.
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Are
head lice contagious?
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Yes,
definitely. But they can't jump from head to head and they
can't fly. The only way they can be transmitted is by direct
contact (heads touching) or indirect contact (a hat passed
around which has been worn by a person with head lice).
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Is
the person with head lice the only one who needs treatment?
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Maybe.
All members of the family should be inspected to make sure
no lice or nits are present. If there is any evidence of headlice,
that person should also be treated with a product like BANLICE® Mousse.
And it's only fair to notify your child's teacher and the
parents of friends... alert anyone he or she has been in contact
with during the two weeks prior to discovering the outbreak.
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Is
there anything else I should do?
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Yes.
Wash all items that have touched your child's head in very
hot water. That means sheets, pillowcases, brushes, combs,
scrunchies and hair ribbons. Any hats or clothes that are
not washable should be wrapped securely in a plastic bag and
left sealed for about two weeks.
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Will
the nits fall out after treatment?
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No such
luck. A special protein virtually 'glues' the nits to the
hair follicles and there's no product that can dislodge them.
To get rid of them, use a fine-toothed comb or your fingernails.
It's difficult, but must be done! |
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