Keep head lice away

The Olympian • Published November 16, 2008

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• Screen your child's head frequently. Wear rubber gloves and use a special comb made for the purpose.

Avoiding other bugs

The cold and flu season is approaching, and there are steps that children can take to avoid catching those bugs:

•Encourage your children to wash with soap and water frequently and for at least 10 to 15 seconds. This is especially important after nose-blowing. To mark the time, they can sing their ABCs or "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

•Tell children to cover their noses and mouths when coughing and sneezing, and teach children to dispose of used tissues right away.

•Tell children to avoid touching their eyes, noses and mouths, as viruses easily move from fingertips to the mucous membranes they infect.

Source: The Mayo Clinic

• If a family member has been identified with head lice, vacuum the house, the furniture, the car and stuffed animals. Bed sheets and washable items should go for a round in the dryer for about 30 minutes.

• Don't bother your pet; head lice do not live on animals.

Myth versus reality

Myth: Being in a classroom with a classmate with lice puts a student at high risk of catching them.

Reality: Head lice can't fly and can't jump. They require direct contact to move from place to place. Someone is more likely to catch head lice from an airplane seat or a hat just used by someone who has head lice than standing next to them.

Myth: Lice cause infections.

Reality: Lice don't cause infections, but scratching the itch — just like any other scratching — can cause skin infections.

Myth: Having head lice is an indicator of a dirty home.

Reality: Head lice only care about attaching themselves to a human scalp.

Myth: I need to get all of the nits out of my child's hair, even if I don't see any lice.

Reality: This is true, but sometimes people confuse dandruff or hair oil for nits. If it crumbles in your fingers, it is probably not a nit.

Myth: If I remove all of the nits and lice from my kids' heads, that'll be the end of the infestation.

Reality: Parents also need to wash all of the bedding and clothes, and vacuum the carpets and upholstery to eradicate the nits. Hats and other items that can't be washed can be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks. Nits and lice can't survive without human contact, and putting the items in a bag will starve them.

Myth: My kids and home seem to be nit-free. I can stop checking for lice.

Reality: Parents can't forget to have someone check their own heads for head lice. Adults can catch them, too (and can give them back to their kids).

Source: The Olympian archives

If you find lice

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