A tiny insect, the head louse, is causing problems in Crawford County once again. Many children are being sent home from school to have this insect found and gotten rid of. The symptoms are an itching head, scratch marks that look like a rash, or no symptoms at all, other than the finding of the small insect or the louse egg, called a nit.

School nurses are generally amongst the most capable to spot signs of lice infestation, but lack the equipment and expertise to distinguish active from inactive infestations.

Head lice bloodfeed once or more each day and cannot survive for more than a day or so at room temperature without ready access to a persons blood.

A female louse may deposit more than 100 eggs at a rate of about six eggs each night. Generally, an infested person has fewer than a dozen lice on their head at one time, but may have hundreds of viable, dead and hatched eggs.

Head lice are acquired from other infested people.

Mechanically removing lice and nits is the most effective but most time-consuming method of treatment. Use a good light, magnification (if available) and a good louse or nit comb to locate and remove nits and insects.

The adult female lice cement each egg to the base of a hairshaft near the skin. Be patient in removing head lice. It may require several hours each night for several nights to tackle the problem. An entertaining video may help keep the child occupied during nit picking. Sit behind the child and use a suitably bright light and magnification if available, to inspect and comb through the hair, one small section at a time. Repeat until no more eggs or active lice are observed.

Infestations may be treated with shampoos containing permethrin or pyrethrins specifically labeled for use on children. As with any insecticide or drug, read and follow the label directions.

Washing and drying with heat, the pillowcases, sheets, nightclothes, towels and stuffed animals may eliminate lice and eggs that might otherwise reinfest a family member. Combs, brushes, hats and other hair accessories in contact with an infested person should be washed in hot water each day to dislodge and kill lice and nits. Vacuum rugs, furniture, mattresses, cars, etc.

Recheck the head of each affected person at least daily. If live lice or nits are found, remove, clean your living space again and check with your health provider before reusing the head lice medication before seven days.

Remember head lice live on all ages. Be sure to tell other persons your child was with to check for head lice, including baby-sitters, grandparents, friends, or other people your children were with. With cooperation, we can rid our community of head lice.

Head lice are tiny crawling bugs the size of a sesame seed. They cannot fly or jump. Nits (lice eggs) are tiny, the size of a poppy seed and are glued to the hairs by a type of insect super glue. Nits are found anywhere on the hairs of the head, but mainly behind the ears and on the back of the head and neck.

Lice are very small and hard to see, but with good light or a magnifying glass, you can see them. The nits may look like dandruff, but are cemented to the hair shafts and cannot be removed easily.

The female louse will live on a person for 20 days and can live off the head at room temperature for 1-2 days. The louse can lay as many as 300 eggs in her lifetime, which hatch in 7-10 days.

Head lice are spread by head to head touching and by sharing:

*Personal items such as clothing, combs, head bands, hats, scarves, or helmets.

*Towels, linens, pillow or nap time blankets.

*Costumes and clothes for pretend play.

*Stuffed and cloth toys.

*Lockers or hanging clothes together on coat hooks.

Contact your health provider before treatment if the person with head lice is:

*Pregnant or breast feeding

*Under the age of two

*Has allergies, asthma or other medical conditions.

*Has used a lice product within the past seven days.

*Use kerosene, gasoline or animal pesticides.

*Use lice products more often than recommended.

*Fumigate (the use of flea bombs or commercial sprays) it is not effective and can cause serious health problems.

*Shave heads

*Treat pets.

Getting Started:

Check all household members for head lice and treat if needed following the directions below. Notify all people who have recently been in contact with the exposed person.

There are three steps that must be done at the same time.

*Personal hygiene

*Household maintenance

*Getting rid of all the nits

Getting rid of nits - The most important steps!!

*Use good lighting. While still wet, comb hair completely and divide into small sections.

*Remove lice and eggs with a metal lice comb.

*Wash bedding, linens, recently worn clothes and stuffed toys.

*Dry on hot setting in dryer.

*Vacuum rugs, furniture, mattresses, cars, etc.

*Dry clean unwashables or put in sealed, plastic bag for two weeks, in a freezer for 48 hours or in a hot dryer for thirty minutes.

*Wash all combs and brushes in hot soapy water.

* Lice sprays are not recommended.

*Shampoo first with a detergent shampoo (such as Prell or Neutrogena) that does not have oils, scents or conditioner (you may use liquid dish soap).

*Dry hair with towel

*Apply a head lice shampoo (for example Nix) over a sink (NOT a tub or a shower). Read and follow the instructions on the product carefully.

* Use a clean towel but leave hair wet for nit removal.

*Vacuum furniture and floors daily.

*Recheck the head of each affected person at least daily. If live lice or nits are found, remove, clean your living space again, and check with your health provider before reusing the head lice medication.

*After 7 days, repeat shampoo or treatment.

*Keep checking heads daily for lice or nits.