As our children head back-to-school, additionally they head again into shut contact with different youngsters. This means a rise in publicity to infections, together with lice. No one needs their child to get head lice, and we DEFINITELY don’t need them bringing it dwelling to their dad and mom and siblings. What can we do as dad and mom to stop head lice, and if our youngster is unlucky sufficient to get head lice, what therapy choices are there?
What are head lice?
Head lice (singular: louse) are tiny bugs the scale of a sesame seed. They are usually pale gray however might be any coloration. They feed on small quantities of blood from the scalp and can’t survive for greater than in the future with no blood meal. Head lice stay for 28 days, and their life cycle has three phases: egg or nit (hatches inside 7-12 days), Nymph (seems to be like an grownup louse however is smaller—concerning the measurement of a pinhead), and grownup louse. A feminine louse can lay as much as 10 eggs per day. Lice lay their eggs near the scalp, and the eggs are oval and concerning the measurement of a knot of thread. They maintain onto the hair floor with a sticky substance. Eggs can mix in with hair coloration and be confused for dandruff or hairspray.
A standard thought is that lice are present in heads/hair which are soiled, however in actual fact, lice can equally infect hair that’s clear or soiled. Lice are discovered worldwide in all elements of the nation and cities. No kind of particular person is extra prone to get head lice. And lice are quite common in school-aged kids. Each 12 months, thousands and thousands of kids get head lice.
How do head lice unfold?
Lice don’t leap, hop, or fly; they solely crawl. The most typical approach they unfold is from shut, extended, head-to-head contact. There is a really small likelihood they may unfold by sharing objects equivalent to combs, brushes, hats, and sports activities helmets.
What are head lice signs?
The most typical symptom of head lice is itching on the scalp. However, it could take 4-6 weeks after lice are on the scalp for itching to start out. Most itching occurs behind the ears and in the back of the neck. The itching might proceed even after the lice are gone.
How will we verify our kids for head lice?
Regular checks are good to identify lice earlier than they multiply into massive numbers. To verify, seat your youngster in a brightly lit room and half their hair. Look for crawling lice and nits on the scalp one part at a time. Live lice are exhausting to search out as a result of they keep away from gentle and transfer rapidly. Nits appear like small yellow or brown specks and firmly connect to the hair close to the scalp. The best place to search out them is on the hairline close to the again of the neck or ears. Nits might be firmly hooked up to hair, whereas dandruff will not be. Use a fine-toothed comb equivalent to a lice or nit comb to comb by way of every part.
What do you do in case your youngster has head lice?
First, discuss to your youngster’s physician earlier than beginning any therapy for head lice. And DO NOT attempt any dwelling cures equivalent to gasoline or kerosene. Other dwelling cures equivalent to olive oil, mayonnaise, margarine, or important oils have additionally been proven to be ineffective. Effective lice medicines are available on the market; nonetheless, converse to your youngster’s physician earlier than beginning these. They embody 1% Permethrin lotion, Pyrethrin shampoo, and Ivermectin lotion, all out there with no prescription. These kill lice however not the eggs so you could want to make use of them a number of instances.
Also out there with a prescription is Malathion lotion, which kills lice and eggs. It additionally might require a number of purposes. It is simply permitted for youngsters six years and older, has a powerful odor, and is flammable. Also out there with a prescription is Spinosad topical suspension, which is permitted for youngsters six months and older and kills lice and lice eggs. Ivermectin tablets are additionally out there with a prescription, however it is best to solely use them when different remedies have failed.
If your youngster has head lice, it is best to wash their garments and linens in scorching water whereas treating them and verify different family contacts for head lice. Also vital to notice is that the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses don’t help “no nit” insurance policies at colleges, stating that kids with nits should not allowed again at school. If your youngster’s college enforces this, you could wish to converse to your youngster’s pediatrician.
Hopefully, all of our kids can have a lice-free college 12 months! But if lice do enter your private home, we now have methods to assist! Looking for extra back-to-school ideas? Check out our current articles on annual and sports activities physicals, in addition to a glance into whether or not or not it is best to take into account a coronary heart display screen on your teenage athlete.
Need assist discovering a pediatrician? We are right here to assist! Learn extra about what components to contemplate when selecting a pediatrician.