Contact with combs, brushes, been previously shampooed with 103 degrees F for 5-10 minutes.
pillows, and hats are less likely to a non-conditioning shampoo, and Vacuum furniture, carpet, car seats
transmit lice from person to person. should be left on the hair for 10 or other fabrics. If an item cannot
To prevent getting lice – avoid minutes before rinsing. In 8-12 be washed, place it in a plastic bag
head-to-head contact during play hours after treatment, comb away for 2 weeks. Do not use sprays or
and activities. Avoid sharing hats, any remaining live or dead lice out fogs – they can be toxic if inhaled
scarves, hair ribbons, towels, and of the hair using a fine–toothed or absorbed through the skin. If you
combs. However, do not avoid nit comb. A retreatment is done have any further questions, contact
protective headgear because of fear approximately 9 days later to catch your pediatrician.
of lice. Avoid beds, couches, pillows, those lice in the second life cycle. carpets, or stuffed animals that have If this does not work, your primary been in contact with lice. care provider or pediatrician can
Early detection and surveillance
by parents can help prevent the
spread. However, screening in
school has not shown to have an
effect on preventing the spread of
lice. According to the Center for
Disease Control, children should not
be sent home from school because
of lice - they can go home at the
end of the day and return to class
after treatment is begun. Nits will
persist after treatment but the
crawling lice should be killed.
help with the next step, prescription
medication. Family members
Dr. Meredith
Brazell, DO
Dr. Meredith
Brazell, DO is a
Pediatrician at
who share a bed with the person
Flagler Health+
with lice infestation should be
at Palencia, 120
treated even if no live lice are
detected. Next, items that lice may
have come in contact with 24-48
Palencia Village Dr. Suite 107, St.
Augustine, FL 32095 (904) 819-3200
hours before treatment must be
disinfected. Wash, soak, and dry
Looking for a great book about
this subject? Check out Bugs in
my Hair! by David Shannon.
items such as linens, combs, hats
and other accessories that have
been in contact with the head by
soaking them in hot water at least
If you or your little one has lice,
there are multiple steps to get
rid of it. The first is normally a
shampoo treatment. Permethrin,
marketed as NIX, is the most
studied and least toxic to humans.
It is available over the counter
for infants older than 2 months
as a cream rinse. Adverse effects
include itching, redness, and
swelling at the site. The product
In-home Lice
Removal Experts
Don’t let your kids bring
home more than their new
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is applied to damp hair that has
S T. J O H N S parent M A G A Z I N E | 17