School is starting and this is an important time to consider the possibility and ramifications of head lice. No matter how clean your house is and how well your child is groomed, you are not immune to these horrible pests. Children play closely together; they wear one another’s coats, hats, and hoodies, and they easily transfer lice from one to the other. Sadly, getting head lice is easier than getting rid of it.
What Are They?
These tiny parasitic insects make their homes in human hair and scalps, living on human blood. They lay eggs, called nits, which are generally unaffected by traditional head lice treatment, making it very difficult to rid yourself, your child, and your home of them for good. Treatment must be repeated every two to three days in order to eradicated all insects and their nymphs, or babies. It can be very difficult to know when you have completely rid your home of these parasites, and therefore almost impossible to know when to stop the treatments.
More Than Just An Inconvenience
Once there has been a diagnosis of head lice, the infected child is not allowed to return to school until he or she is “nit free.” This means that an examination by a doctor, a school nurse, or another person qualified to examine the child has determined that there are no lice and no eggs in the child’s hair or on her scalp. This can mean days, even weeks, without work as you stay home to care for your infected child. Additionally, after the child is declared nit free, there is a strong chance for reinfection from other children or from pillows, hats, and furniture that may not have been thoroughly cleaned.
Traditional Head Lice Treatments
This parasitic infection is usually treated with an over-the-counter remedy which chemically kills the lice. It is worked into the hair like shampoo, and a fine tooth comb is supplied to work out any nits that remain in the hair. The treatment must be repeated in seven to ten days to eradicate any young insects that may have hatched from nits not caught in the comb.
Treat The Home
All linens, pillows, stuffed animals, and bedding that has been touched by the infected person must be washed. Water must be at least 130 degrees and the laundry should be dried on hot for at least 20 minutes. If any of the clothing and bedding is not washable, it should be dry cleaned or sealed into a vacuum sealed bag for at least two weeks. Combs and brushes should be soaked in Lysol for at least an hour. You may consider using head lice treatments for your carpet and upholstery. It is not advisable that you use them. They are toxic and can be very dangerous if their fumes are inhaled. The carpet and furniture should be vacuumed thoroughly, which should be sufficient, as lice can only live for two days once they have fallen from a human body.
Are All Head Lice Fool Proof?
Possibly the most frustrating part of all of this is that there is little guarantee with most head lice treatments. They are harsh and irritating, and often, after multiple treatments, the lice remain. It does not have to be a right of passage for school children, and yet these parasitic insects continue to infest school children everywhere year after year.
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