If your child comes home from school scratching his head, lice may be finding a home in his hair.
Anyone can get head lice - mainly from head-to-head contact or sharing hats, brushes or head rests.
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But you can take these risk-reducing precautions, courtesy of the American National Pediculosis Association:
Check all family members for lice and nits (lice eggs) at least once a week. Only those infested should be treated. Lice are reddish-brown wingless insects, nits are greyish-white, always oval shaped, and are glued at an angle to the side of the hair shaft.
Be sure not to confuse nits with hair debris such as bright irregularly shaped clumps of dandruff. Lice treatment is not appropriate for hair debris.
Consult your pharmacist or physician before using lice treatment pesticides when the person involved is pregnant, nursing, has allergies, asthma or epilepsy. Never use a pesticide on or near the eyes.
All lice-killing products are pesticides. If you choose to buy an over-the-counter treatment, follow the directions carefully and with caution. Manual removal always is a safe alternative.
Use the product over the sink, not in the tub or shower. Always keep the eyes covered.
Separate hair in sections and remove all attached nits with a comb, baby safety scissors, or your fingernails.
Wash bedding and recently worn clothing in hot water and dry in a hot dryer. Combs and brushes may be soaked in hot water for 10 minutes.
Avoid lice sprays. Vacuuming is the safest and best way to remove lice or hairs with attached nits from upholstered furniture, rugs, stuffed animals and car seats.
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