“Yes, you will scratch your head a little after reading this. I was itchy the whole time writing it.”
- Me
Head Lice: Myths & Facts
I know what you’re thinking. Ew. But while we don’t like to think about them, they could happen to anyone, and knowledge is power. So let’s roll up our sleeves and find out how we get lice, how we can avoid them, and ask: what’s this on the news about “superlice” anyway?
Here are the basics. Lice (louse if there’s only one of them, which there never is), are parasites that live, and lay eggs on, our scalps. There are many species, but the head lice in question only live on humans, can’t survive without us, and don’t spread disease.
There are a lot of myths about head lice, myths that fester in the schools where lice are most common. Kids can be cruel, so let’s bust the myths and know the facts:
- Anyone can get lice, regardless of class, skin colour, etc. If you hear that conversation starting, stop it in its tracks
- Kids with lice aren’t dirty, nor are their houses. It has absolutely nothing to do with how many baths the kid has or how good a parent you are
- Lice are annoying and their bites are itchy, but they aren’t dangerous. Too much scratching can lead to infection but that’s about it
- Going swimming does not kill lice
- Shaving your head will not get rid of lice
Here are some ways you will NOT get lice:
- From your dog, cat, guinea pig, or any other furry critter. Humans only
- From anyone standing apart from you. They have stumpy little legs and no wings, so they neither jump or fly.
Now, here’s how you could get lice:
- From direct head-to-head contact (hugging, reading books together, etc)
- Shared hats, caps, scarves, brushes, or anyone that touches your head
- Movie theatre seats (yep.. ew)
How to check for lice:
You’ll probably see the eggs first. Called “nits”, they’re tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots sitting close to the scalp. They’d look like dandruff only they aren’t white and you can’t brush or shake them off.
An adult is sesame seed size and moves quickly. Untreated, they follow a 3 week life cycle and spread quickly. They feed on blood a few times a day and can survive 2 days off a scalp (e.g. in a hat).
It’s a good idea to check when you’re brushing your child’s hair. The tell-tale scratching, which is actually a reaction to their saliva, often doesn’t kick in for a couple of weeks. If he or she complains about something tickling his or her head and moving around, take it seriously. Note that about half of people with lice will actually never itch, so rely on visual inspections.
Avoiding & Getting Rid of:
Lice are a pain to get rid of and clean up after, so try to avoid them. Teach your children never to share hats, combs, scarves, or anything else that touches their heads.
If you do get it, you’ll need to be persistent. While adult lice are fairly easy to kill, their eggs are stubborn and survive most treatments. You’ll need to repeat treatment several times to catch the lice life cycle. How often and how far apart will depend on what treatment you’re using.
There are many treatments available, from nit combs to chemical washes. Here are a few home remedies (note that we don’t endorse any specific treatment over another). Many of these are designed to loosen nits’ stubborn hold so you can remove them with a special nit brush:
- Apple cider vinegar (½ cup water and ½ cup vinegar, poured over the scalp to make nits easier to comb out)
- Hair drying to kill nits
- Essential oil spray to repel lice and loosen nits (fill spray bottle with 5 drops oil per 1 ounce water)
- Wash all bedding and clothing
If itching or visual cues persist after either store bought or home remedies, see a Doctor to get something stronger.
“The Superlice are Coming”:
“The Superlice are coming” makes for a good headline, but the truth isn’t scary. Superlice have mutated to become genetically resistant to common lice treatment products. It was pretty inevitable.
Superlice aren’t any bigger, itchier, meaner, or more dangerous than regular lice. They are regular lice, just with a subtle genetic twist.
You’ll know they’re “super” when the traditional treatments don’t work. Consult your Doctor and you’ll get a safe, non-toxic remedy over the counter at the pharmacy. They have been spreading, so follow-up on your treatments to make sure they’ve worke
Websites Consulted:
http://www.healthline.com/health/lice/where-do-lice-come-from#Overview1
http://www.healthline.com/health/lice-whar-are-lice
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/head_lice
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20641598,00.html