Head Lice
Posted on Apr 6, 2011Our nurses get many questions about head lice. Here is some helpful information if you ever suspect your child has lice. Head lice symptoms primarily include itching of the scalp. A scalp rash may be present. Lice prefer the back of the neck. Lice are 1/16 inch long, gray colored, quick moving and very difficult to see. The nits are the lice eggs. Nits firmly attach to the hair shaft, near the skin. Unlike dandruff, nits cannot be shaken off the hair shafts. Nits are easy to visualize because of their white color and large number. Nits will hatch into lice in about a week. Nits cannot survive off of the scalp for more than 2 weeks. Adult lice will survive 3 weeks on the scalp or about 24 hours off the scalp. Head lice can only be transmitted by live lice to another person. Most transmission is from head-to-head (hair to hair) contact. Sleepovers and sharing the bed is a major source. Your child can return to school or daycare after 1 treatment with an anit-lice shampoo. A child with the presence of nits only does not need to miss school or child care. Nits alone are not contagious. (Adapted from the AAP, Healthy Children.org)
