Difference between revisions of "Check a Child's Hair for Lice"

{{fa}}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.

#Wash your child's hair. Be sure to use shampoo and conditioner. The resulting moisture at the root of your child's hair, where lice thrive, may temporarily prevent their movement along the scalp.<ref name="rf5">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1279305/</ref> Conditioner will also make it easier to comb through your child's hair. Use a comb containing gaps no more than 0.2mm.<ref name="rf6">Goldstein, MD, MPH, Adam O, & Goldstein, MD, Beth G. Pediculosis capitis. UptoDate. May 20, 2015.</ref>

#Start at the scalp and brush out firmly to the ends of your child's hair. You can hold the brush in place with each stroke to systematically search for lice. This will allow you to thoroughly examine each section of your child's head. <ref name="rf7">http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2013/march/wet-combing/</ref>

#*Pay extra attention to the area of the scalp around the ears and at the nape of the neck. Although lice can live anywhere on the scalp, these areas tend to be tell-tale regions during an infestation.<ref name="rf8">http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/lice/headlice018.shtml</ref>

#Check near the hair follicle, about 1/4-inch (6 mm) to 1/2-inch from the scalp, for eggs (called nits). Nits are about the size of a pinhead and are glued onto the hair shaft. They are oval-shaped and translucent in color when first laid, but turn brown as the embryo develops.<ref name="rf9">http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Head_lice_%28nits%29</ref>

#Understand what to look for. Adult lice are light brown and their bodies will be about the size of a sesame seed. Nits may be brown, yellow, or white.<ref name="rf10">https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/e---h/head-lice/diagnosis-treatment</ref>

#*Closely examine the comb's teeth both during and after each comb stroke, using a magnifying glass if necessary. If examining under a blacklight, the nits will appear as light blue in color.<ref name="rf6" />

#Rinse the comb under a faucet after each stroke or dislodge the lice using a piece of wet toilet paper. This will remove any lice that were picked up during combing. It will also wash away any dandruff your child might have, which can resemble lice nits.<ref name="rf11">http://www.patient.info/health/checking-for-head-lice</ref>

#*If nits pose a problem to thorough combing, try soaking hair in a 3%-5% white vinegar bath prior to using the lice comb.<ref name="rf12">https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p4/p42078.pdf</ref>

#Trap lice. You might be able to pin lice against the comb using your fingers, but tweezers may be more effective.<ref name="rf13">http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Head-lice/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx</ref>

#*Some experts say that manually removing lice as described above may be more effective (though also more time consuming) than over-the-counter lice treatments.<ref name="rf14">http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/09/to-get-rid-of-head-lice-comb-them-out-instead-of-using-nix-rid-or-other-chemicals/index.htm</ref>

#Place any lice you find in a small cup of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Lice can survive in water, and may escape if not properly dealt with after combing. You should also soak the combs used to find and catch lice in rubbing alcohol for at least one hour.<ref name="rf12" />

#Be vigilant. If you have found lice and/or nits and removed them with a comb or tweezers, it is important to repeat the procedure on a daily basis. Eggs may take several days to hatch, so it's important to continue treatment and removal, even if it seems like the problem is getting better. Some experts recommend nightly lice inspection and removal and continued monitoring for two to three weeks after the initial treatment.<ref name="rf15">https://www.michigan.gov/documents/Final_Michigan_Head_Lice_Manual_106828_7.pdf</ref>

#*While dry combing is an excellent way to detect lice, picking individual lice with tweezers can be a tiresome and time-consuming activity for both you and your child. Some experts recommend wet combing, as it allows you to quickly diagnose and partially treat the infection more efficiently.<ref name="rf16">http://www.bmj.com/content/321/7270/1187</ref>

#Look for signs and symptoms. Take note if your child or one of your child's friends engages in frequent head scratching or appears to have an itchy scalp or crawling sensations.<ref name="rf17">https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/e---h/head-lice/signs-symptoms</ref>

#Do not let your child share combs, brushes, helmets, or hats with anyone. You may also want to advise your child to avoid touching couches, chairs, or pillows that a person with lice has used.<ref name="rf18">https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/e---h/head-lice/tips</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>