Head Lice

Headlice is very common condition in children and is not caused by lack of cleanliness. Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp. They lay eggs called nits that stick to the shaft of the hair very near the scalp. The eggs or nits appears as whitish gray or tan specks, about the size of the grain of sand. They are firmly attached to the hair shaft very close to the scalp. Many children with head lice have no symptoms. Some children may have itching of the scalp. In order to find head lice ,caregivers must do a careful check of the hair and scalp. There are effective treatments for head lice. The special shampoos or cream rinses all contain an insecticide, which kills the insect. It maybe necessary to treat all members of the household at the same time.

Transmission
Head lice spread from person to person by direct contact between children, or through items such as hats, combs, or hairbrushes. Head lice cannot jump or fly.

Things to do when a child has head lice
1. Notify the parents of the child with head lice, and ask them to contact their physician or local public health agency for advice about treatment. All family members may have to be treated with a special shampoo or cream rinse. Advise parents to carefully follow the directions of the bottle.
2. Check other children and staff in the same group for the presence of nits. If nits are found, notify the child's parents to pick their child up.
3.Ensure all infested children and caregivers are treated.
4. Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture thoroughly
5. Dry-clean or simply store clothing in closed(sealed)plastic bags for ten days. All the lice will die in the sealed bag.
6. Put pillows and non washable furry toys in clothes dryer at the hottest setting for 20 minutes
7. Soak all combs and hairbrushes for ten minutes in the head lice treatment solution