How to Handle Head Lice
By Ariana Abid , MD
Treatment
You pick up your child from school and notice something crawling on top of his or her head . The hairs on the back of your neck stand up ,
your heart starts beating fast , and you feel slightly itchy . Meet lice . These wingless parasites do not care who you are , what you do , and contrary to popular myth , how dirty your head is .
If you don ’ t see active crawling lice but have suspicions , examine the scalp closely with a bright light . Lice eggs or nits show up as a light yellow colored sphere ( careful not to confuse with dandruff ) attached at the base of the hair in areas behind the ears or at the base of the scalp . They will need to be removed to eliminate the presence of these creepy crawlers .
Should my child be taken out of school if he / she has active lice ?
No . Affected children may return to school once treatment is initiated . However , it is a good idea to remind them to avoid direct head contact with others , which is the primary route of transmission .
What about swimming ?
Lice can survive for hours underwater but cling tightly to the hair they call home , so risk for transmission in pools is low . As for the rest of the household during an infestation , wash and dry clothing and linens in hot water and high heat . Don ’ t forget to vacuum furniture and carpeting .
First-line medical treatment is topical Pyrethrins and Permethrin-containing shampoos , which can be purchased over the counter . In the case of resistant lice , stronger prescription shampoos containing Ivermectin can be used . These shampoos are generally safe and effective and at most cause a very mild itching or burning sensation in those with hypersensitivity . Of course , run any questions or concerns by your doctor in the event of reaction . Although a one-time treatment of the hair and scalp for 10 minutes is usually sufficient , the Center for Disease Control recommends repeating treatment after seven days to ensure eradication . Removal of lice eggs can be performed at home with a fine-tooth comb or “ lice comb ” following treatment .
I recently learned of a more old-fashioned treatment that involves saturating the scalp and hair with olive oil for six to eight hours to suffocate the lice . A lice comb is then run throughout the hair and wiped off with a paper towel to extract lice and nits and repeated until no more appear on the comb . While this technique avoids a possible drug reaction , it is more time-consuming and can take about a week to fully complete .
Whatever method you use , do not be shy to talk to a trusted doctor , especially if initial treatment fails . Lice are built to weather tough storms ( this can be taken literally ), yet the good news is that treatment is relatively easy and inexpensive . With knowing what to do and enlisting the proper tools , you ’ ll be able to keep that stress at least out of your hair .
APRIL 2022 | 17