How to Know if Your Child Has Head Lice and What to do About Them

If you have children, then chances are you will encounter a head lice infestation at some point in time. If you find that your child has head lice, don't panic. Head lice are bothersome but not dangerous. Head lice do not carry diseases that some other parasites do.

If you witness your child continually scratching their head, you might want to check for head lice.

To check for head lice, sit your child in your lap, or on the floor in front of you. Using a pencil, part the hair and look at the hair shaft. If there are small white flecks adhered to the hair strand near the scalp, this is probably a nit or lice egg. Repeat this step covering the entire head, looking for nits as well as adult head lice.

If your child indeed has head lice, you will need to treat his/her hair, to remove them, it would be a good idea to treat the entire family. If your child has head lice, chances are the rest of the family are infested as well.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nix/Permethrin
• A nit comb
• A head lice insecticide for furniture

1. 
   A head lice egg/nit which is adhered to a strand of hair.

   Treat your child's hair with a lice removal shampoo. I recommend Nix. It is a rinse that leaves behind a residue which kills any lice eggs/nits that may hatch.

2. 
   Head lice, egg removal comb.

   Remove all head lice eggs/nits from your child's hair. Using a head lice egg/nit comb, start at the scalp and comb all the way to the ends. Rinse the comb in rubbing alcohol, to ensure that all of the head lice eggs/nits are destroyed.

3. Wash all hair accessories, brushes, barrettes, combs, etc. in hot soapy water. You must also wash all clothing, bed linens, basically, anything that your child has come into contact with, to remove any head lice or eggs.

4. You will also need to spray furniture and mattresses, pillows, etc. with a head lice pesticide. Several of these can be bought over the counter at any pharmacy.

Tips & Warnings

• You will need to treat your entire family for head lice. If one family member has head lice, likely you all do.
• Lice are spread by direct contact with a person who has a head lice infestation.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 6/16/2009 Very helpful article. Head Lice can be hard to get rid of but your article makes it easier. 5*