When your child comes home from daycare or school announcing that he or she has lice, most parents react to the news with feelings of anxiety, anger, or being overwhelmed. This is normal, but it is reassuring to know that, while lice infestations are inconvenient, they are not a threat to your child’s or family’s health. Lice are not known to carry any diseases. The only known health risk is the potential for infection, which can be caused by scratching the itchy infested areas.
Head lice survive less than 1-2 days if they fall off a person and cannot feed; nits cannot hatch and usually die within a week if they are not kept at the same temperature as that found close to the scalp.
Tips to avoid getting Lice:
Remember all lice killing products are pesticides. If you choose to use an over the counter treatment, check with your health care provider before buying it. Some people should never use or be in contact with these products. These include pregnant or nursing women, children under two years old, anyone with a medical condition, open wounds, a seizure disorder, asthma or cancer. Avoid prescription lice shampoo. It is not as effective as other products and is very toxic.
Lice are hard to get rid of and nits are tiny. Keep combing the hair every night until no lice or nits are found. Persistence and patience are the key ingredients in ridding your child of lice. It is well worth the time it takes to carefully comb out your child’s hair to get rid of this problem.
When your child comes home from daycare or school announcing that he or she has lice, most parents react to the news with feelings of anxiety, anger, or being overwhelmed. This is normal, but it is reassuring to know that, while lice infestations are inconvenient, they are not a threat to your child’s or family’s health. Lice are not known to carry any diseases. The only known health risk is the potential for infection, which can be caused by scratching the itchy infested areas.
Head lice survive less than 1-2 days if they fall off a person and cannot feed; nits cannot hatch and usually die within a week if they are not kept at the same temperature as that found close to the scalp.
Tips to avoid getting Lice:
Remember all lice killing products are pesticides. If you choose to use an over the counter treatment, check with your health care provider before buying it. Some people should never use or be in contact with these products. These include pregnant or nursing women, children under two years old, anyone with a medical condition, open wounds, a seizure disorder, asthma or cancer. Avoid prescription lice shampoo. It is not as effective as other products and is very toxic.
Lice are hard to get rid of and nits are tiny. Keep combing the hair every night until no lice or nits are found. Persistence and patience are the key ingredients in ridding your child of lice. It is well worth the time it takes to carefully comb out your child’s hair to get rid of this problem.