Difference between revisions of "Check a Child's Hair for Lice"
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| − | + | Head lice (''Pediculus humans capitis''), otherwise known as pediculosis,<ref name="rf1">https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/pediculosis/fact_sheet</ref> are parasites that can live in humans' hair and on their scalps and clothes.<ref name="rf1" /> They don't carry disease, but they can be a nuisance, and frequent scratching of the scalp may lead to infection.<ref name="rf2">http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-lice/basics/complications/con-20030792</ref> Contrary to popular belief, head lice are not a problem related to poor hygiene; in fact, lice actually prefer clean hair. These critters don't jump like fleas, so they can only spread by crawling from one person to another. Therefore, a child with long hair that rests against another child is more likely to have some of these hitchhikers climb aboard during play.<ref name="rf3">http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/gen_info/faqs.html</ref> While direct head-to-head contact is the most common means of transmission, sleepovers, wearing another child's hat, swapping hair brushes,<ref name="rf1" /> or laying on another child's bed are some of the common ways that children with any length of hair can contract lice.<ref name="rf4">http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/epi.html</ref> If your child was recently exposed to someone with a confirmed case of lice or is complaining about an itchy head, this is how to check for lice. | |
| − | [[Category:Head Lice Treatments]] | + | [[Category: Head Lice Treatments]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Wet Combing to Diagnose a Lice Infestation=== | ===Wet Combing to Diagnose a Lice Infestation=== | ||
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#Wash laundry frequently. Bedding, towels, hats, and recently worn clothes should be washed with hot, soapy water and put through a clothes dryer at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius). You may also want to vacuum pillows and car seats, and store anything that can't be washed (like stuffed animals) in a sealed plastic bag for at least two weeks to ensure that any lice and unhatched eggs are dead.<ref name="rf19">http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/lice/headlice030.shtml</ref> | #Wash laundry frequently. Bedding, towels, hats, and recently worn clothes should be washed with hot, soapy water and put through a clothes dryer at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius). You may also want to vacuum pillows and car seats, and store anything that can't be washed (like stuffed animals) in a sealed plastic bag for at least two weeks to ensure that any lice and unhatched eggs are dead.<ref name="rf19">http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/lice/headlice030.shtml</ref> | ||
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== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
