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FACTS OF LICE
Understanding
the problem helps bring about solutions.
LiceSolutions!
 What
are head lice?
Where do they come from?
How
do we get them?
Why
me?
Are
children the only ones to get head lice?
Isn't
it a sign of being dirty?
If
I wash my child's hair daily will it help?
What
about putting lots of gel on their hair?
How
do I know for sure that my child has head lice?
What
if I find head lice?
How
bad is the problem?
Why
has it become such a problem?
Is
there any danger?
What
is being done about it?
How
can I help?
What are head lice?
Head lice
are tiny six legged insects. Each leg is equipped with a claw, enabling
the lice to grasp onto the shaft of the child's hair. They range in
size from 2 to 4mm, approximately the size of a grain of rice. Females
found are generally longer and wider than males and have a more rounded
stomach. Male lice, unlike the female, have a brown band across their
back.
They can vary in color from grayish white to reddish brown. Lice,
like chameleons, have the ability to adapt to their environment. Therefore
lice found on dark haired or dark skinned individuals will most likely
be darker than those found on blond haired or lighter skinned individuals.
Other factors that can affect the color of the louse are temperature,
sunlight, even blood intake. A louse will appear darker in warm temperatures
or bright lights than those found in cooler climates. Additionally
a louse with a full stomach may also appear darker than it's hungry
counterpart.
The female louse lays her eggs by gluing them to your hair shafts.
She can lay as many as 5 eggs at a time, frequently laying twice a
day. She will produce approximately 200 eggs in her lifetime. Eggs,
or nits as they're commonly called, generally hatch in 7 to 10 days.
Once hatched, they have a life expectancy of approximately 30 days.
Lice are wingless and cannot jump or fly. They can, however, move
with amazing speeds. An adult louse can travel as fast as 9 inches
per minute. An antenna located in front of the eyes enables the louse
to detect odor, humidity, temperature; it's assumed even certain blood
types in an attempt to seek out a favorable blood supply. When they
find a desirable environment they will literally run to seek out the
new host. Head lice also run to avoid exposure to bright lights or
offensive odors.
They depend on human blood for survival. A louse separated from its
human host will rarely survive more than 24 hours. Eggs found on an
abandoned hair are at an even greater risk. Even if they survive to
the point of hatching, it is unlikely that they will live past two
hours, as they require immediate feeding for their survival.
Where do they come from?
No one knows for
sure. They have been around as long as we can tell. Evidence of lice
existence has been documented as far back as ancient times. Their
shells have been found on mummies once sealed in a tomb as well as
prehistoric burial grounds in North America. Text reference to lice
can be found as far back as 16 BC, where Egyptians once developed
their own concoction for eliminating head lice.
Even George Washington spoke of lice when, at the age of 13, he wrote
a book on manners! He wrote "It's not polite to pick your lice in
public, but if you see lice on the head of a friend it is polite to
pick theirs."
How do we get them?
In most
all cases lice are transmitted from one human host to another, brought
about mainly as a result of head to head contact. They are most commonly
found on children ranging from ages 3 to 11; it is assumed because
children in that age group are more physical than their older classmates.
While it is possible to pick up a hitchhiker (an abandoned strand
of hair with an egg still attached) it is assumed that less than 10%
of all active cases are actually contracted in this manner. Furthermore,
the majority of abandoned nits become damaged and never reaches the
stage of hatching. If they do, they require blood almost immediately
or will starve to death.
An adult louse rarely leaves the security of a warm generous host
unless he has already identified a newer and more desirable environment
to move onto. Lice feed every three to six hours. It's for that reason;
they are not likely to, willingly, leave their food supply.
It's also worth noting that female lice prefer round shafts of hair
in which to lay their eggs. The hairs of Afro Americans tend to be
kinkier and are generally oval in shape. This would also hold true
with an individual that has extremely curly hair. Although it's important
to remember that while it does reduce the risk of getting head lice,
it does not make them immune. One reason would be the increased number
of interracial marriages- thus changing hair textures. Lice are more
commonly found on girls than on boys, it is presumed because their
hair mass offers a more secure and attractive breeding ground. Additionally
girls tend to be more affectionate than boys, bringing about more
head to head contact. One more fact to note is that, by majority,
boys have much shorter hair than their female counter parts. The lack
of hair allows for more sun exposure causing the skin to have a much
tougher texture making the lice job more difficult. Since lice are
lazy, they will tend to look for a head that requires less work to
obtain to their needed food supply. We can't emphasize enough that
while these are reasons why we find head lice more on certain sexes
or races- they are not a guarantee that these individuals are immune
from them.
Why me?
There is
some truth in the fact that certain people just seem to attract lice.
Nothing personal, just that lice- are always on the lookout for a
favorable environment. If you happen to be one of those unfortunate
people - look out! You'll probably face more than your share of lice
infestations.
There are many factors that draw lice to one individual over another.
Blood type and Rh factor are among them. While we hate to admit it
- lice are amazingly intelligent. They seem to have a sharp sense
of smell as well as excellent eyesight. Lice know what they need and
will rarely move outside that environment. In some cases feeding on
an undesirable host can even be deadly to the louse. If they do happen
to do so they generally are looking for a new host almost immediately.
Some individuals are fortunate enough to only supply a bridge between
cases. For this reason, you will in some instances, find a case where
there is an absence of live bugs and few eggs exist. The host was
merely a bridge between two more desirable environments.
Are children the only ones to get head lice?
Absolutely not!
While it's more commonly spread among children- parents and other
adults are not immune. If your child has lice- your at risk! This
holds true for other individuals who have close contact with children,
including- teachers, grandparents, other relatives, babysitters, etc.
As you curl up to a child, sit next to them, or lean over them- you
are offering the opportunity for head lice to change environments.
Keep in mind they are always looking for a new food supply! Also as
one host head becomes overcrowded a louse will start seeking a new
environment.
Isn't it a sign of being dirty?
This couldn't
be farther from the truth! Lice actually prefer a clean head. In fact,
as far as the lice are concerned- the cleaner the better!! Since lice
glue their eggs to the hair shafts, a clean head allows for easier
attachment. This makes perfect sense when you consider that most home
remedies to remove lice and nits consist of oil base. Likewise dirty
hair is typically oilier. The fact that having lice means you're dirty
is a myth that has gone on all to long! Lice are not prejudicial.
They don't care about the size of your wallet or thrive in a dirty
environment. They don't care if your house is clean or dirty and they
aren't overly concerned with your personal hygiene. At one time or
another it happens to everyone. A louses only concern is for his survival.
To accomplish this he needs to feed and is always looking for the
most convenient means of accomplishing this.
It might be worth adding that the only small truth to the dirty environment
is that it tends to be an undisturbed environment. Lice don't like
to be disturbed- by combing, brushing, braiding, washing, etc. If
in fact you have lice- these actions will disturb them thus making
the environment less appealing. A good example would be- "if you were
standing next to someone who was always pushing and punching on you-
you would want to move"- the environment is less than desirable!
Will it help if I wash my child's hair daily?
Nice in theory-
wrong in actuality. Since nits are glued to the hair all the brushing
and washing on earth won't change that fact. The eggs are coated with
a fixative substance, which literally cements them to the hair shaft,
therefore making removal a tedious and tiresome task. While you might
luck out and wash a louse or two down the drain, don't count on it!
Remember these are blood-sucking insects with crab-like claws. They
can attach themselves to your hair and they intend to hang on for
dear life.
As much as we hate to admit it, they are amazing critters. They also
have the ability to shut down their nervous system and can remain
submersed, unharmed, even in products intended to kill them. During
laboratory testing, lice were found to play dead for up to two long
hours- fooling even individuals conducting such experi
Washing your child's hair is never a bad idea but understand that
your reward is a clean head of hair! One more positive reason for
taking such care is that you are disturbing their environment. The
more you wash, brush or mess with the hair- the less desirable your
head becomes to any visiting louse. After all even we wouldn't want
to be in an environment where someone was always pestering us; not
allowing us the chance to rest or eat in peace! Our answer to that-
Comb, Wash, Brush, Braid - BE A PEST!
What about putting lots of gel on their hair?
We hear
this a lot, and while it might seem to make sense- we strongly discourage
it. Greasy, nasty hair is no more a guarantee against head lice than
clean hair. Unfortunately if you choose this route you get a head
of hair that not only looks and probably smells nasty- but also one
that attracts every foreign particle that passes it's path. Is this
really what you want to teach your child? It's far simpler to take
a few extra minutes to brush the hair and pull it back- thus closing
the bridge that invites a louse over.
How do I know for sure that my child has head lice?
There are
many ways to know if your child is infested with head lice. The most
obvious way is the usual itchy scalp- so commonly, but not always,
found in head lice cases. If itching is to occur, it generally begins
10 to 14 days after infestation. The only way to confirm your suspicions
is by a thorough examination of your child's head.
We need to also point out that not everyone with head lice itches!
The itching is caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva that is
secreted into the blood system as the louse is feeding on your child's
scalp. Understandably, while most people do react to this foreign
substance- not everyone does!! Furthermore, we need to remember that
lice can lay eggs twice a day. Just imagine how sever a case can become
by the time you first notice the itching.
The best way to stay on top of this increasing problem is by routine
head exams. This allows you to control the problem before it controls
you. Making head lice exams a part of your daily routine will allow
you to identify the problem at it's onset and thus prohibit lice from
taking over your family, your home and your life.
What if I find Head Lice?
If you
find head lice in your child's head- take care of the problem right
away. Each day wasted is an increased opportunity for reproduction,
not to mention the chance of spreading. Bare in mind that the ease
of spreading is why you're dealing with this problem in the first
place. Spreading not only occurs to strangers- but also classmates,
playmates, as well as family members. After a recent study preformed
by The Palm Beach County Head Lice Task Force in conjunction with
Florida Atlantic University they defined Persistent Head Lice as three
incidents of live lice found over a six-week period. Upon further
study they found that in the vast majority of these cases another
family member also had head lice- unknowingly handing it back and
forth like a bad cold.
How you treat the problem is entirely up to you. There are a lot of
products on the market but remember most of these are pesticides.
If you feel you must use them, do so sparingly- being careful to follow
all directions.
Whether you use a shampoo product or not it's important to understand
that 100% removal cannot occur without hours of painstaking nit picking.
Sit down and make your child, as well as yourself, as comfortable
as possible. You're going to be there for a while! Don't try and skimp
on the process, the only ones you will cheat will be your child and
yourself. Any nit left behind is a chance for re-infestation. Be sure
in your examination to keep a watchful eye out for nymphs. Since they
look like a freckle or a speck of dirt they are often missed- allowing
them to continue to grow thus enabling a new generation of head lice
to visit your home.
There have also been many new products developed to ease your burden.
Among the best is the Lice Meister Comb developed by the NPA. It retails
for approximately $14.00. Unlike traditional combs supplied with most
shampoo products, the Lice Meister Comb has rounded tips with long,
serrated, metal teeth; making it easier to comb through the hair and
nit removal more productive. Even still, don't expect this comb to
get more than 75% of the nits.
Another product is the Robi Comb. It operates much like a bug zapper
attacking the nervous system of any live lice it comes in contact
with. While they have proven to be impressive in their elimination
of live lice they do little, if anything, to rid the nits. Since nits
have yet to develop a nervous system- there is nothing for the comb
to attack- this holds true on why products also fail to kill nits.
We found it to be an interesting concept by still lacking in efficiency.
The units retail for approximately $30.00 and if not used carefully
or if applied to an extremely thick head of hair, they can run into
mechanical problems.
If the thought of this is making you crazy there are several companies
out there offering this service, ours included. Since these types
of companies provide this service on a daily basis they are much faster
and far more efficient than the average parent. While in most cases
a cost will occur, the end result is often having it done right the
first time- in less time and at a substantial savings compared to
the parents failed attempts to end their problem. Additionally a truly
efficient service will also examine the heads of all members of the
family to check for the possibility of other cases. A chore most families
often neglect.
Most importantly be careful to notify anyone that might have come
in contact with your child. Total eradication is not possible unless
all cases surrounding your child are addressed. There is nothing worse
than cleaning up the problem, only to have it handed back again.
How bad is the problem?
Head lice are
the number one reason for absenteeism in schools across the country.
While no nit policies come with good intentions and are absolutely
necessary, they also have created an entirely new set of problems.
Children are missing school causing their studies to suffer as a result
of it. Parents are not only spending countless dollars on products
(many of which no longer work) but also the loss of income due to
missed wages as a result of this problem. Additionally is the strained
relationship that is created between parents and school administration
as schools diligently try and enforce the no nit policy.
Statistics derived from product sales suggest that there are over
12 million cases a year. Even more when you consider the number of
cases that go unreported, undetected, untreated, or treated with home
remedies. It is estimated that parents spend 150 million dollars annually
trying to rid this problem. Far more when you consider the missed
wages that occur as a result of parents being forced to miss work
while tending to the child's head lice problems. Second only to the
common cold, head lice is growing at epidemic proportions.
Adding to the problem is the fact that many parents are over treating
their child's head in a panic effort to rid the unwelcome houseguest.
In doing so they are not only wasting time and money; but more importantly
is the overexposure to harmful chemicals.
Why has this become such a problem?
In years
past, if your child had lice you treated them and sent them on their
way. We were comfortable with the fact that that once treated any
remaining nits were also dead. However, recent research brought about
at the request of the NPA has proven that those methods are no longer
effective.
Lice are insects and like other insects, repeated exposure to chemicals,
over an extended period of time, has allowed lice to build up a resistance
to the very products once used to kill them.
It's not uncommon for a parent to shampoo and comb their child's hair
only to see them re-infested a week later. This is largely due to
the fact that remaining nits were not killed. When left on the hair
to hatch, the cycle started all over again. Another little known fact
is that lice can hold their breath. Under laboratory conditions it
was found that lice could shut down their system - seeming playing
dead for up two hours, all the while submersed in the very solution
intended to kill them.
While the chance of resistance is considered a big factor- it is far
from being totally responsible. As your pharmaceutical companies are
quick to point out- the directions on the package are there for a
reason. Unless you are willing to read and follow them in their entirety-
you can't expect them to end the problem.
Another important factor is the failure to follow through with precautionary
measures. When you have treated your child's head you MUST complete
the cycle by taking additional safety measures. Bed linens must be
changed- wash and dry in hot water prior to reapplying to the child's
bed. If they sleep with a stuffed animal or blanket throw it in the
dryer for 30 minutes. Run the vacuum- not only on the floors, but
also along the sofa, child's chair at the table and seats in the car.
If you do not have a vacuum with attachments, you can also use a lint
remover brush to collect loose hairs. Headphones and helmets can be
bagged and put in the freezer for a couple of hours and any hairbrush,
comb or recently used hair tie should be washed in hot water, boiled
for 30 minutes or soaked in alcohol for 2 hours; prior to reuse. Please
keep in mind that while we consider these steps important we don't
want you to become consumed with the cleaning process. Remember lice
DO NOT live in your home- they live on your head- they need blood
to survive- so rather than stripping your sheets daily, running the
vacuum three times a day and bagging every toy your child owns- your
time is better spent checking and combing their heads. That alone
is a tedious enough job without overburdening yourself with unnecessary
cleaning techniques.
You need not drive yourself to a state of hysteria or have a nervous
breakdown in an attempt to regain a normal lifestyle. One final note-
keep in mind how this all effects the child- we don't want them to
feel like it's their fault or that they should feel ashamed because
they caught head lice- it happens- deal with it- get over it and go
on with your life.
Is there any danger?
Lice themselves
are an irritating problem. While in some cases their saliva can produce
an allergic reaction among certain individuals, these reactions are
mild compared to the risk involved with many shampoos.
Products containing Lindane have caused the greatest concerns. After
hundreds of reports to the NPA on adverse reactions, the FDA determined
in April of 1996 that such products were to be used only as a last
resort! In some cases Lindane was found to be responsible for causing
seizures and neurological problems, in one such case- even death.
Concluded to be more dangerous than any other product, over the counter
shampoos containing Lindane were pulled from the shelves.
Furthermore, the vast majority of parents fail to follow proper directions,
leaving the shampoo on longer than recommended or retreating to quickly.
Improper treatment is one of the biggest causes of re-infestation
and among the greatest dangers to your child.
Another such danger and one clearly marked on the shampoo packaging,
is the danger in treating a child under the age of 3 or the use of
such products by pregnant individuals. It is further advised that
products not be used on individuals with scalp infections.
Remember these are chemicals- and it's YOUR child's head! Is this
really how you want to deal with the problem? Work to get rid of the
pesky critters- but do so in a safe and effective manner!!
What is being done about it?
The
National Pediculosis Association was formed in 1982. Since then
they have made great strides in increasing awareness through research
and education. They fought to limit the use of potentially harmful
products containing dangerous chemicals such as Lindane. They were
also instrumental in establishing the current No Nit Policy found
in most schools today.
Extensive research has been conducted in an effort to find safer
and more effective means for dealing with this new breed of super
louse.
Several new combs are currently available; including the Lice Meister
and Robi combs.
Furthermore, many concerned parents have banned together to help
form various types of organizations dedicated to help fight this
pesky critter.
How can I help?
There are many
ways in which to help and certainly organizations such as ours are
always looking for those willing to lend a hand.
For starters check in your local area and see if there are any organizations
working towards the education and elimination of the current head
lice situation. If so, make yourself available to assist in any way
possible. If you are unable to locate a facility in your area you
might contact our nonprofit organization, Lice Solutions Resource
Network, Inc. @ 561-842-9969 or the NPA @ 800-446-4NPA to see if they
are aware of any such organization in your area. If not, you might
consider helping to start one. It is our goal to eventually see treatment
facilities in major cities across the US. It is individuals like you
that will help make that possible.
Confirm that your school is operating under a No Nit Policy. If they're
not, push forward to bring about a change. Also identify what your
school's policy is regarding notification of parents when head lice
have been identified in your child's classroom. Only through stricter
No Nit Policies, as well as parents and school administration working
together, can we hope to bring about an end to this ever-increasing
problem. Remember you're in a potentially "no win" situation! If you
rid your child of head lice- only to return them to an environment
that is not being checked- you'll be pretty much guaranteed that you'll
be treating it again!!
Encourage regular screenings in not only in your child's class but
the entire school as well. It's in the best interest of the entire
student body to require at least three screenings per year, which
should include all enrolled students!! A good rule of thumb would
be at the beginning of the each year, after the long Christmas break
and prior to releasing them into the long summer vacation. In doing
so you'll reduce the chances of having an epidemic on your child's
campus.
In keeping with this timetable- the first week of August is Head Check
Awareness Week. During this time, when parents and students are already
gearing up for the return of school, it's important to add head checks
to that "To Do List". Our treatment facilities offer Free Head Checks
that entire week to any child that enters our facility. Hopefully
by doing so we will see fewer cases returning to our schools in the
fall. If your town doesn't already provide such head checks, work
with the schools in your area to incorporate a simi
Screenings on a classroom level should be done more frequently. An
obvious time would be upon the discovery of lice involving a fellow
classmate. However, it can't stop there- Parents must be notified
that an outbreak exists in their child's class. By doing so parents
can (and should) work with the schools to check their child's head
daily for the next three weeks. These checks need only take a few
minutes a day- by doing so you will save yourself countless hours
later on. Early detection is the key to minimizing transmission among
the students. Another important element to this program needs to be
the checking of heads of any siblings of the infected child. It will
serve no purpose to rid one class of head lice if the brother or sister
is already sharing in another class. This can be done quickly and
discreetly. If that child is clear- send him or her back to class-
if not start the entire process in that class- and so on. As you can
see- taken lightly this can quickly snowball into a major epidemic.
That is why it's so important that parents and school administration
not only take this problem serious, but also work together in a diligent
manner to help rid the school of this problem as quickly as possible.
To further emphasize how severe this situation can get we like to
share one such case we worked with. A few years ago, one of our local
middle school nurses called about a 7th grader that had a head lice
problem. The school was already aware of it, but since the child had
already missed so much time in school they allowed her to continue
in class. What they weren't aware of was the real severity of the
situation! Our technician, ready to tackle the problem, quickly had
to call for reinforcements. This child's head was so infested that
it to two technicians 4 hours and even then they didn't get it all.
It was difficult to work in her head. She had multiple open wounds
with blood and puss oozing from her scalp. Her hair was literally
matted to her head. They worked diligently- each taking a side of
the child's head and working as gently as possible they attempted
to remove as much as possible. They had to soften the hair before
they could even start and had to have the child rewash her hair three
more times while there. Hundreds of live lice literally ran from this
child's head and there was little free space for lice to lay their
eggs on. The lice were basking in the blood- since they are naturally
lazy insects it was like being on a Caribbean vacation for them. It
was amazing how much better her hair looked when our technicians finally
determined they had done all they could do. From there it was a medical
issue- she required antibiotics to heal the sores and kill off any
remaining problems. It also became a child neglect issue since the
situation should never have gotten that out of hand. Mom, knowing
the child had lice, felt that at 12 years of age the child was old
enough to tend to her own head. It also became a serious school problem.
Upon notification to her school nurse- they did a head by head check
of the entire 7th grade and sent 86 children home in one day!! We
dropped out of the loop before hearing how many they found in the
remaining grade levels.
While I know this description has probably made your stomach turn-
it's important to understand how a neglected case can become a serve
problem.
The most important factor that can't be stressed enough is that having
head lice should be no more embarrassing than a case of chicken pox!
We're sorry for those that we unknowingly spread it to- but it happens-
once you realize that your child has lice you treat it, keep them
away from playmates during this time period and notify anyone that
they have been in contact with! What you do have is an annoying inconvenience
for everyone involved- especially for the individual inflicted with
the problem. You certainly hope your child avoids contact- but if
they don't- then you deal with it!!
Finally, if you are among the unfortunate millions to receive a home
visit from this uninvited guest, speak up! Be a friend and tell your
friends to have their heads examined!! J
Notify the school, scouts, church, daycare and anyone else your child
has had contact with. Keep in mind that symptoms usually develop 7
to 10 days after infestation. Understand that telling others is necessary
processes to assuring that your child not get it back again. Your
child came in contact from somewhere and they have surly spread it
to others by the time you realize they have it. Treating your child
and then returning them to an infested environment would only be exposing
them to the likely chance of re-infestation.
If you become an unfortunate member of the double whammy club- remember
this important fact," If you must retreat- change procedures!" In
doing so you are reducing the chance that you will be dealing with
a resistance problem. It's important to be careful to follow the directions
on the package exactly, leaving on only the required time and allowing
adequate days between treatments. And don't forget to check other
family members as well as close contacts. Keep in mind this is like
a bad cold and it will spread just as quickly.
In an effort to better document cases and localities your help is
also asked in reporting these cases to our facilities, and or the
NPA as well as Harvard University. You can notify us by way of email
info@licesolutions.org or phone @ 561-842-9969. The NPA can be reached
at 800-446-4NPA. Harvard University request that you send samples
to them- along with a SASE and they will respond to your particular
case. To do this, check out their web site at www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html.
Finally- Remember To add Head Lice Issues to your list of Charities
- As we tell clients daily - We Are Not Federally Funded - We're Publicly
Funded - We cannot exist without your kind donations!! Please remember
us when considering your yearly charitable contributions- Take advantage
of any matching programs that your company might offer. If you belong
to any organization that provides fundraising activities to benefit
local and national charities- Please see that they add us to their
list! Please help us so we may continue to help you!!
Lice are never pleasant- at least now we know that they should not
be embarrassing either. "Lice Happens! Get over it and go on!" Now
with Lice Solutions RN, Inc. getting rid of lice is easier than ever!
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