HEAD LICE
The dreaded topic!!
Any time children come together, particularly school, dance groups, or sleepovers, detected head lice cases commonly increase. Direct, physical, head-to-head contact is the usual method of transmission. Lice do not jump or fly. They survive only for a short time away from the human head and have difficulty crawling or clinging to smooth surfaces.
Check you child's head weekly for lice and/or nits (eggs). Mature lice, which are no bigger than a sesame seed, avoid light and are hard to see. Lice eggs or "nits" are usually found close to the scalp - usually within one quarter inch. They appear as tiny whitish/brown ovals that are "glued" to the hair shaft. They cannot easily be flicked away as dandruff can. Head lice do not transmit disease and are not a serious medical condition. They cannot survive on your pets.
If you find head lice on your child, please notify the school and treat him/her with lice shampoo following the package instructions. A second treatment may be required in seven to ten days. Launder all bedding, coats, and hats. If your child sleeps with stuffed animals or keeps them on their bed put them in a garbage bag and keep it tied for seven days. Continue to examine the child and all family members for three weeks and treat only if live lice are found.
Mayonaise can also be used. Coat the hair with mayonaise, cover head(head only/avoid the face) with shower cap or saran wrap, leave on hair at least three (3) hours, comb through, wash hair, comb again. Repeat once per week.
To remove nits - apply vinegar to hair, leave on ten (10) minutes or more, comb hair with nit comb. The vinegar loosens the adhesive that attaches them to the hair shaft.
