Lice - Head

Symptoms

The eggs (nits) are easier to see than the lice. Nits are tiny white specks attached to hairs.
Itching of the scalp is the main symptom.
A scalp rash may be present. The back of the neck is the favorite area.

Cause

Lice are 1/16-inch (2 mm) long gray-colored bugs. They move quickly and are difficult to see. They are the size of a sesame seed. The lice feed on blood from the scalp.
Nits are white eggs firmly attached to hair shafts close to the scalp. Unlike dandruff or sand, nits can't be shaken off the hair shafts.
Best places to look: behind the ears and along the hairline at the neck.

Lifespan of Lice

The nits (eggs) hatch into lice in about 1 week.
Nits (eggs) that are over ½ inch (1 cm) from the scalp are empty egg cases. They are very white in color.
Off the scalp, nits (eggs) can't survive over 2 weeks.
Adult lice survive 3 weeks on the scalp or 24 hours off the scalp.

How It is Spread: Live Lice, Not Nits

Only live lice can give lice to another child.
Nits (lice eggs) cannot pass on lice. Nits are attached to the child's hair.
Almost all spread of lice is from direct hair-to-hair contact. Lice cannot jump or fly to another person's hair.
The spread of lice from hats, hair brushes or combs is not common. Headphones and other objects also do not usually spread lice.
Most often, the spread of lice to others occurs at home, not school. Sleepovers and bed-sharing are a major source.

Prevention of Spread to Others

Avoid close contact with others until after the first anti-lice treatment.
Lice that are off the body rarely cause infection. Reason: Lice can't live for over 24 hours off the human body. Vacuum your child's room.
Soak hair brushes for 1 hour in a solution containing some anti-lice shampoo.
Wash your child's sheets, blankets, and pillow cases. Wash any clothes worn in the past 2 days. Wash in hot water (130° F or 54° C). This kills lice and nits.
Items that can't be washed (hats, coats, or scarves) can be set aside. Put them in sealed plastic bags for 2 weeks. This is the longest period that nits can survive. (Note: This step probably is not needed.)

Lice Exposure: Low Risk for Getting It

Most children who are exposed to someone with head lice do not get them.
Lice cannot jump or fly. They can only crawl.
Lice are only transmitted by close head-to-head contact. Even then the risk is low.
Lice are rarely if ever transmitted by sharing caps or combs.
Sleeping together has a small risk of transmitting risk.
This is the only situation that the AAP recommends treating after exposure.

Overview:

Anti-Lice Shampoo (such as Nix):

Buy Nix anti-lice creme rinse (no prescription needed) and follow package directions.
First, wash the hair with a regular shampoo. Then, towel dry it before using the anti-lice creme. Do NOT use a conditioner with this shampoo. Reason: It will interfere with Nix.
Pour 2 ounces (full bottle or 60 ml) of Nix into damp hair. People with long hair may need to use 2 bottles.
Work the Nix creme into all the hair down to the roots.
If needed, add a little warm water to work up a lather.
Nix is safe above 2 months old.
Leave the shampoo on for a full 10 minutes. If you don't, it won't kill all the lice. Then rinse the hair well with water and dry it with a towel.
REPEAT the anti-lice shampoo in 9 days. Two treatments are always needed. The second treatment will kill any new lice that have hatched from eggs.

Remove the Dead Nits (Not Urgent Or Essential):

Nit removal is not necessary. It should not interfere with the return to school.
Some schools, however, have a no-nit policy. They will not allow children to return if nits are seen. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that no-nit policies be no longer used. The National Association of School Nurses also takes this stand. If your child's school has a no-nit policy, call your child's doctor.
Reason: Only live lice can spread lice to another child. One treatment with Nix kills all the lice.
Nits (lice eggs) do not spread lice. Most treated nits (lice eggs) are dead after the first treatment with Nix. The others will be killed with the 2nd treatment.
Removing the dead nits is not essential nor urgent. However, it prevents others from thinking your child still has untreated lice.
Nits can be removed by backcombing with a special nit comb.
You can also pull them out one at a time. This will take a lot of time.
Wetting the hair with water makes removal easier. Avoid any products that claim they loosen the nits. (Reason: Can interfere with Nix)

Hairwashing Precautions to Help Nix Work:

Don't wash the hair with shampoo until 2 days after Nix treatment.
Avoid hair conditioners before treatment. Do not use them for 2 weeks after treatment. Reason: Coats the hair and interferes with Nix.

Cetaphil Cleanser for Nix Treatment Failures:

Go to your drugstore and buy Cetaphil cleanser in the soap department. No prescription is needed. It works by coating the lice and suffocating them.
Apply the Cetaphil cleanser throughout the scalp to dry hair.
After all the hair is wet, wait 2 minutes for Cetaphil to soak in.
Comb out as much excess cleanser as possible.
Blow dry your child's hair. It has to be thoroughly dry down to the scalp to suffocate the lice. Expect this to take 3 times longer than normal drying.
The dried Cetaphil will smother the lice. Leave it on your child's hair for at least 8 hours.
In the morning, wash off the Cetaphil with a regular shampoo.
To cure your child of lice, REPEAT this process twice in 1 and 2 weeks.
The cure rate can be 97%.
Detailed instructions can be found online: www.nuvoforheadlice.com

Treating Close Contacts:

Check the heads of everyone else living in your home. If lice or nits are seen, they also should be treated. Use the anti-lice shampoo on them as well.
Also, anyone with an itchy scalp rash should be treated.
Bedmates of children with lice should also be treated. If in doubt, have your child checked for lice.

What to Expect:

With 2 treatments, all lice and nits should be killed.
If lice come back, usually the product wasn't used correctly. It can be that the shampoo wasn't left on for 10 minutes. It may also mean that hair conditioner was used. It can also mean another contact with an infected person.
Make sure the Nix is repeated in 9 days. If you don't, the lice may come back.

Return to School:

Your child can return to school after 1 treatment with the anti-lice shampoo.
A child with nits doesn't need to miss any school or child care. Nits do not spread to others, nor do they cause lice in others.
Remind your child not to share combs and hats.
Be sure to tell the school nurse or child care center director. She can check other students in your child's class.

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