Church Partnership Newsletter August 2014 | Página 4

Lice
The head louse is a parasitic insect that can be found on the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes of people. Head
lice feed on human blood several times a day and are not known to spread disease. Lice are found almost
exclusively on the scalp, particularly around and behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the head,
and are uncommonly found on the eyelashes or eyebrows. Head lice hold tightly to hair with hook-like claws at
the end of each of their six legs. Head lice nits are cemented firmly to the hair shaft and can be difficult to
remove.
WHO IS AT RISK FOR GETTING HEAD LICE?
Infestation with head lice is most common among pre-school children attending child care, elementary
schoolchildren, and the household members of infested children. Infestation with head lice is much less
common among African-Americans, possibly because the claws of the of the head louse found most
frequently in the United States are adapted for grasping the shape and width of the hair shaft of other races.
WHAT DOES HEAD LICE LOOK LIKE?
Head lice have three forms: the egg (also called a nit), the nymph, and the
adult. See picture to the right.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AN INFESTATION
• Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair.
• Itching, caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the head louse.
• Irritability and difficulty sleeping; head lice are most active in the dark.
• Sores on the head caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes
become infected with bacteria found on the person's skin.
PREVENTION & CONTROL
• Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school, and
elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, and camp).
• Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes.
• Do not share combs, brushes, or towels. Disinfest combs and brushes used by an infested person by
soaking them in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5–10 minutes.
• Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with
an infested person
• Machine wash and dry clothing, bed linens, and other items that an infested person wore or used
during the 2 days before treatment using the hot water (130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying
cycle. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag and
stored for 2 weeks.
• Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
• Do not use fumigant sprays or fogs; they are not necessary to control head lice and can be toxic if
inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
TREATMENT
Treatment for head lice is recommended for persons diagnosed with an active infestation. All household
members and other close contacts should be checked and treated at the same time as the infested person.
Many head lice medications are available over-the-counter and by prescription. When treating head lice, it is
important to follow product directions unless instructed differently by a physician or pharmacist.
Resources: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/, http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/gen_info/faqs.html,
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/prevent.html