Selinsgrove Area Intermediate School

Headlice

Pediculosis Capitus, which is the medical term for human head lice, is a condition that occurs occasionally in young children.

In order to save time and expense, there are a few things that families do NOT have to do. It is NOT necessary to scrub walls, disinfect with antibacterial solutions, use environmental sprays, or fumigate.

Facts:

• Head lice do not jump, hop, or fly
• The lice products do not always kill all the lice and nits (eggs) with one treatment. Lice have become resistant to commonly used products.
• It is difficult to detect an early infestation. If many lice and nits are found, they may have been present for several weeks.  It is not uncommon for head lice to be undetected for 2-3 weeks or longer.
• Animals do NOT transmit human head lice.
• Most cases of head lice are passed through direct head-to-head contact or close personal contact.
• Lice can also be transmitted from sharing infected objects such as brushes, combs, pillows, hair pieces, hats, coats, or scarves.
• Anyone can get head lice- clean or unclean, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, pleasant or angry - All can get an infestation if a fertilized, adult female louse gets into their hair.

   

  Directions for Head Lice Treatment:

  1. Use a shampoo for head lice treatment- follow the directions box exactly
  2. Launder clothing and bed linens in hot water and dry on the hottest setting possible.  Heat kills lice.
  3. Vacuum all furniture, car seats and floor daily for several days.
  4. Place pillows and stuffed animals in the dryer on the hottest setting for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Discard or cleanse all combs and brushes in a 10% Bleach solution, a 2% Lysol solution or boiling water for 1 hour.
  6. Examine all close contacts and family members for head lice.  Treat as necessary. 
  7. Remove all nits (eggs) from the hair.  This make take several hours.  Recheck two times/day and remove nits if seen for at least 1 week.