Raise your hand if your child has brought home a note (or 2 or 3) already this year giving you the unwelcoming news that someone in the class has head lice…..
So far our classes have been fortunate, but after talking to many of our Mommy Friends we learned that we are in the minority, for now.
Because we have been around kids that have been exposed to lice, I’ve been a little over zealous and incredibly diligent in my effort to create what I hope is a very hostile environment for those pesky little bugs. In all of the research I have done I have found that the things I thought I knew about lice weren’t true, so I thought I would share with you the Truths and Myths of Lice: Drumroll please….
1. Dirty Hair attracts lice: Myth! Having head lice is not a sign of uncleanliness or poor hygiene. The pesky little bugs can be a problem for kids of all ages and socioeconomic levels, no matter how often they do — or don’t — clean their hair or bathe.
2. Lice can jump: Myth! They cannot jump OR Fly, these tiny parasites have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair. They spread mainly through head-to-head contact, but sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats can also help pass them along.
3. Lice can only live on human scalps: True! Good news for little Fido! Pets cannot catch head lice and pass them on to people or vice versa.
4. Head lice are the second most common condition among children: True! Second only to the common cold.
5. Head Lice travel on carseats: Myth! Head lice never choose to leave the head to travel to an inanimate object to wait for a new host. The only means of transmission is direct head to head contact.
6. Lice do not like heads with short hair: True! They are very sensitive to temperature, humidity and light. Heads with shorter hair tend to be colder, brighter and dryer which head lice think is unattractive.
While finding a nit or louse on your child might seem like the end of the world, rest assured that it isn’t. It does however take a little bit of persistence to rid your family of the unwanted visitors. Always make sure to check all family members if someone in your family has lice, especially if they share bedding. It’s also a good idea to make sure everyone in your family has their own brush or comb. Stress the importance to your children about not sharing hats or personal items worn on their head or neck.
Most importantly emphasize to your child that although having lice can certainly be very embarrassing, anyone can get them. It’s important for kids to understand that they haven’t done anything wrong and that having lice doesn’t make them dirty.
For more information on lice and lice prevention and treatment visit webmd.
