What are they? Head lice are tiny insects that live only on people's scalp and hair. They hatch from small eggs (nits) that are firmly attached to the individual hairs near the scalp and cannot be easily moved up or down the hair (as can specks of dandruff). They look like grains of sand. Nits may be found throughout the hair but are most often located at the back of the scalp, behind the ears, and at the top of the head. The eggs hatch in about 10 days, with new lice reaching adulthood in about 2 weeks. The female louse is about the size of as sesame seed, can live for 20 to 30 days, and can lay about six eggs a day. The lice live by biting and sucking blood from the scalp. Lice can survive up to 8 hours between feedings and can do so off the body.

How should you check for head lice? Usually, you probably will not see the lice, only the eggs. These are tiny, pearl gray, oval specks attached to the hair near the scalp. Look carefully, using a magnifying glass and natural light. Search for nits at the back of the neck, behind the ears, and at the top of the head.

How does a person get head lice? Anyone who has close contact with an infested person or shares personal items can become infested. Lice are spread only by crawling from person to person directly or onto shared personal items such as combs, brushes, head coverings, clothing, bedding, or towels.

What should you do about head lice?

1. If your child does have head lice, your health care provider may want to treat everyone in your family. Everyone should be checked, and anyone with nits should definitely be treated.
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• Remove all nits after shampooing the hair with medicine. This is a difficult and time-consuming process because the nits have such a firm grip on the hair. Using a solution of vinegar and water may help loosen nits so you can remove them with a special, fine-toothed, nit-removal comb.
• Check for nits daily for the next 10 to 14 days. Then repeat treatment to kill any newly hatched lice.
• Clean personal items and surroundings:
  • Machine wash all washable and possible infested items in HOT water. Dry then in a HOT dryer.
  • Put difficult-to-wash items (stuffed toys or pillows) in a HOT dryer for 20 minutes or dry-clean them.
  • Seal items that cannot be washed or dried in a plastic bag for 30 days (the life cycle of a louse.)
  • Boil combs and brushes for 10 minutes or soak them for 1 hour in a bleach solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach mixed with 1 quart of water.
  • Thoroughly vacuum rugs, upholstered furniture, and mattresses.
  • Do not use insecticide sprays because they can be harmful to people and animals.

When can your child return? Your child may come back as soon as the shampoo has been used, you have removed as many nits as possible from your child's hair, and you have cleaned or stored personal items. Remember that you must keep checking your child's hair for new nits for at least 2 weeks.

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