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“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
Kidds' Health
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If the school has ever called with the notification that your child has head lice, it’s probably a moment you’ll never forget. The shock. The humiliation. Not to mention the many questions! How did this happen? What will people think? Was it the slumber party or the shared batting helmet? Who is to blame? •The culprit is Pediculus humanus capitis, a tiny insect that infests an estimated 6 million Americans annually, mostly children ages 3-10. It lives only on human scalps, affecting Caucasians most frequently, and girls more often than boys. It is unrelated to personal hygiene, and has no apparent regard for socioeconomic status. During an infestation, a dozen or so adult lice may be found on the scalp at any given time. A female lays around 100 tiny white eggs, called nits, which she cements to the base of the hair shafts. The eggs hatch in about a week, leaving the empty shells to grow out with the hair. •Lice spread by crawling from person to person through head-to-head contact, such as two children sharing a pillow, or lying side by side on the floor during play. Lice cannot hop or fly. They die within two days off the scalp, so catching lice from brushes, combs, hats, helmets, or bedding is less likely, but still possible. •The most common symptom of lice is an itchy scalp. If this happens, check your child and other family members for lice and nits. Lice look like tan-colored sesame seeds, and move fairly rapidly between the hairs. Nits look like tiny white eggs the size of pinheads that stick to the hair shafts, and are difficult to remove. Nits within a quarter inch of the scalp are considered viable; those beyond that have hatched. •Treatment of lice involves two steps. First, in children older than 2, use an over-the-counter lice shampoo such as Nix or Rid to kill the live lice. Then remove the viable nits and surviving lice by combing through the wet hair with a fine-toothed comb (usually included with the lice shampoo). Repeat combing every couple of days until no lice or viable nits are seen. Most shampoos recommend a second dose 7 to 10 days after the first. 8For children under age 2, consult a doctor before using over-the-counter lice treatments. Oils, solvents, Vaseline, oral medications, and natural remedies have not been proven effective against head lice. Cutting or shaving the hair is usually not necessary. •Wash any clothing and bedding used by the child in the last two days. Items that cannot be washed may be dry cleaned or sealed into plastic bags for two weeks. Soak brushes and combs in alcohol or hot water. Vacuum the carpets, furniture and car seats. Fumigation is not necessary. Lice do not infest dogs, cats or other household pets. •Head lice cannot burrow into the skin or transmit diseases to people. However, excessive scratching can cause the scalp to become infected. Consult a doctor if your child has sores on the scalp. If lice still remain active after using lice shampoo, the doctor may suggest a prescription treatment. •Most children with head lice recover with no problem. After the first lice treatment, a child can safely return to her usual activities. Be sure the school or day care is notified. Itching may persist for a week or two after the infestation, but repeat the treatment only if live lice or viable nits are seen. Despite all the inconvenience and unpleasantness this insect brings, it is a relatively harmless childhood condition. Good-intentioned efforts to prevent it may in some cases be counterproductive. A tiny bug is a small price to pay for the protection of a borrowed helmet. Dr. Richelle K. Marracino is a family practice physician at the UC Riverside Campus Health Center. Information: 951.827.3031. |
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