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Head Lice Facts

Dear Parent or Guardian,    

At this age, it is very important that you understand the facts about head lice. Head lice checks are very time-consuming and tedious and often cannot be accomplished in one setting. Here is some information to help you prevent head lice in your child.

    • Please notify the school nurse about head lice 
    • Checking all household members and other close contacts at least once a week.
    • Use a large magnifying glass and a bright light to help you see. 
    • Itching, especially around the ears and back of the neck is the most common sign of head lice.
    • If there is evidence of active infestation, all members must be treated at the same time.
    • After treatment, it is important to comb out all the nits with a special nit comb for several days.
    • Students cannot return to school until they have been treated. Remember to retreat in 7-10 days.
    • There are new, safer prescription treatments available.
    • Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to get appropriate care.
    • Resistance to some head lice treatments have been reported.
    • If your child has live lice after two treatments, contact your doctor for a different form of therapy.
    • There is no scientific evidence that home remedies are effective treatments.
    • Bed linens, blankets, and recently worn clothes must be washed in very hot water.
    • Vacuum furniture, mattresses, pillows, and carpets.
    • Remind your child to keep their head from touching others when playing, hugging, whispering, and any other way their head may get close to someone else.

  • A diagram showing the life stages of a head louse, including an adult, nymph, and egg.​​​​​​​

    • From EGG to NYMPH (small adult) to LOUSE (fully grown adult).
    • Lice are wingless insects that live on the human scalp and feed on human blood, so they don't live long off the head.
    • They cannot fly or jump. They are crawling creatures.
    • Live head lice that fall on a desk or floor at school will not be alive the next day.
    • The eggs (or nits) are tiny teardrop shaped and are found near the scalp.
    • Nits cannot be caught by another person. A nit is only an egg. 
    • Unlike dandruff, they are yellowish-brown in color and difficult to remove.

    • Not using enough head lice product
    • Not following up with a second application
    • Not removing all nits
    • Not adequately cleaning the home environment

Head lice are spread by direct head-to-head contact with another person who has them, for example, during play, slumber parties, sports activities, family parties, or camp.