Back to School and Head Lice
by Youmasu J.
Siewe, Ph.D, MPH.
Having head lice can result in social embarrassment, loss of days at work or
school. You don’t have to be embarrassed if you have head lice, or your little
Jenny comes home with a note from the teacher or school nurse that she has head
lice. Head lice is an infestation with a parasite that can affect individuals of
every race, socioeconomic class, and common in many Oklahoma schools.
Who is at risk for getting head lice? Anyone who comes in close contact
with someone who already has head lice contaminated clothing, and other
belongings. Preschool and elementary-age children, 3-10, and their families are
infested most often. Girls get head lice more often than boys, women more than
men. In the United States, African-Americans rarely get head lice.
What do head lice look like? There are three forms of lice: the nit, the
nymph, and the adult. Nit: Nits are head lice eggs. They are hard to see and are
often confused for dandruff or hair spray droplets. Nits are found firmly
attached to the hair shaft. They are oval and usually yellow to white. Nits take
about 1 week to hatch. Nymph: The nit hatches into a baby louse called a nymph.
It looks like an adult head louse, but is smaller. Nymphs mature into adults
about 7 days after hatching. To live, the nymph must feed on blood. Adult: The
adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has 6 legs, and is tan to
grayish-white. In persons with dark hair, the adult louse will look darker.
Females lay nits; they are usually larger than males. Adult lice can live up to
30 days on a person’s head. To live, adult lice need to feed on blood. If the
louse falls off a person, it dies within 2 days.
Where are head lice most commonly found? On the scalp behind the ears and
near the neckline at the back of the neck. Head lice hold on to hair with
hook-like claws found at the end of each of their six legs. Head lice are rarely
found on the body, eyelashes, or eyebrows.
How do you know if you have head lice? Tickling feeling of something
moving in the hair; crawling lice are not seen on hair or scalp; finding nits
within a 1/4 inch of the scalp confirms that a person is infested, Itching,
caused by an allergic reaction to the bites; Irritability; Sores on the head
caused by scratching - sores can sometimes become infected.
How did my child get head lice? By contact with an already infested
person. Contact is common during play at school and at home (slumber parties,
sports activities, at camp, on a playground); By wearing infested clothing, such
as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, or hair ribbons; by using infested
combs, brushes, or towels; by lying on a bed, couch, pillow, carpet, or stuffed
animal that has recently been in contact with an infested person.
How is head lice treated? There are many over-the counter products
available, but because of the dangers of treatment with chemicals that can be
overused and dangerous to the health of the person being treated, it advisable
to contact your school nurse, pharmacist or health care provider for advice.
Youmasu J. Siewe, Ph.D., MPH, is State Specialist for
Public Health Education, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service at OSU in