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Head Lice
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Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Dec 21, 2015

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Page 1: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Head Lice

Page 2: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

What are Head Lice?

Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and are not

considered a health hazard

Page 3: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Who can get Head Lice?

Anyone who has close head-to-head contact with someone who has head lice

More common among preschool and elementary school-aged children and their families

Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice

Head lice cannot live on pets or animals, only on humans.

Page 4: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Contracting Head Lice

Head lice crawl quickly from head to head when in close contact

Cannot fly, jump, or hop Head lice can be transferred

when personal objects are shared- e.g. combs, brushes, hats

Page 5: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Recognizing Head Lice

Tickling feeling on scalp Itchy scalp Feeling of something moving in the hair Irritability Sores on head from scratching Presence of nits, nymphs, and/or adult head lice

Page 6: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

What do they look like?

Adult head liceTiny wingless brown insects; size of a sesame seedLive for about 20 days If a louse crawls off of a head, it dies within 2 days

Page 7: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

What do they look like? Nymphs

Are baby head lice Smaller than adult head lice Mature in about 1 week

Nits (eggs) Tiny specks; about the size of a knot in thread Firmly attached to the hair close to the scalp Nits are usually found on the hair behind the ears, at the

back of the neck, and above the forehead. Do not mistake for dandruff, which can be easily blown

off.

Page 8: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Treating Head Lice Ask your pharmacist for a recommended

treatment product Only treat when nits or live head lice are

present – head lice products do not prevent head lice.

Follow product instructions carefully to avoid re-infestation

The products kill the head lice and many eggs, but for most products a second treatment is needed 7 to 10 days after the first treatment to kill any newly-hatched lice before they mature.

Page 9: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Treating Head Lice

1. Before applying treatment, shampoo child’s hair over a sink with regular shampoo – do not use conditioner or combination shampoo/conditioner- many products require you to damp-dry the hair with a towel or blow dryer.

2. Wear plastic or rubber gloves to avoid unnecessary exposure to treatment product. - wrap a towel tightly over the child’s eyes to protect them

Page 10: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Treating Head Lice3. Apply the head lice product according to product

directions.- timing is important - if the product is rinsed off too soon, head lice and nits may not be killed. If left on too long, there is unneeded product exposure.

4. Rinse child’s hair under tap, not in shower or bath, to minimize product exposure on the rest of the body.- wash your hands well after using product- do not re-wash hair for several days after treatment

Page 11: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Treating Head Lice

Many products require a second treatment 7 to 10 days later to kill any newly-hatched lice.

If you see active lice 8- 12 hours after treatment, contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist. A different treatment product may be needed.

Page 12: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Treating Head Lice

Talk to your healthcare provider: If a child is under the age of 2If you are pregnant or breastfeeding If a person has a seizure disorderIf a person has broken or infected skinIf lice are on eyebrows, eyelashes or facial hair

Page 13: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

General Information on Head Lice Products Follow the directions Timing is important Do not mix products Rinse child’s hair under tap Products should not be used near the

eyes, nose, or mouth Wear plastic or rubber gloves Wash your hands after using product Store products away from children Do not apply to open or infected skin

Page 14: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Treating Head Lice

All nits should be removed after treating with productHead lice products are not 100 % effectiveRemoving nits:

will reduce hatching of eggs that were not killed with treatment

will allow you to notice if a new infestation occurs

Page 15: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Treating Head Lice To remove nits:

Part and lift hair to check for nits or liceWork under a good light (window or lamp)

Live lice can be removed with scotch tape wrapped around your finger

Page 16: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Treating Head Lice To remove nits

Use your thumbnail/first finger to grab the nit and slide it off the hair shaft. A fine- tooth nit comb may also be useful, but are not effective with fine hair.

Place nits in a plastic bag, seal and put in garbage

Take frequent breaks, especially with young children.

Check and remove nits daily for 2-3 weeks.

Page 17: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Treating Head Lice

Avoid home remedies – no scientific proof of effectiveness

Do not use flea control products, turpentine, paint thinner, etc.

If your child has head lice, tell the school/child care facility and child’s close contacts immediately to prevent further spread

Page 18: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Housecleaning Wash in hot, soapy water:

Headwear, combs, brushes, pillowcases, towels, bedsheets

Items that cannot be washed should be stored in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks

Excessive housecleaning is unnecessary, but vacuum surfaces where heads have rested Sofas, car seats, helmets

NEVER use insecticide sprays

Page 19: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Controlling the spread of Head Lice

Discourage head-to-head contact and sharing of hats, scarves, brushes, combs and headwear

Check heads of all people in close contact Treat all family members with head lice at the

same time Check young school-aged children weekly for

head lice; more often if there is an outbreak If head lice continue to return, call your

healthcare provider

Page 20: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

Recommended websites:

Perth District Health Unit www.pdhu.on.ca

Huron County Health Unit www.huronhealthunit.com

Center for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/

Canadian Paediatric Society www.cps.ca www.caringforkids.cps.ca

Please note that information about head lice varies among sources

Page 21: Head Lice. What are Head Lice? Insects that live and reproduce on your head Head lice feed on blood from your scalp Head Lice are a common nuisance, and.

For further information, contact…

Health Line519-271-7600 ext 267

or toll-free 1-877-271-7348 ext 267

www.pdhu.on.ca