PRINT ADS

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Is your child’s feeling really itchy. Could it be head lice? Fall will soon be here, children have returned to school and the topic of head lice often returns.

Signs of head lice include a tickling feeling in the hair, frequent itching and sores from scratching.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, head lice are parasitic wingless insects that live on people's heads and feed on their blood. An adult is called a louse, is about the size of a sesame seed, and is brownish tan. Nymphs are smaller and become adult lice about seven days after hatching. Lice feed on blood about every four to six hours, but can survive up to three days off the scalp.

The eggs, called nits, are even smaller — about 1/32 inch. Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the skin's surface, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits look sort of like dandruff, only they can't be removed by brushing or shaking them off.

Lice and nits are easiest to detect at the neckline and behind the ears. Part your child's hair into small sections and check for lice and nits on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the nape of the neck. A simple way to check for lice is to have the child hold his head over a light colored towel. Brush the hair and scalp vigorously toward the towel. Dislodged lice will be found on the towel.

Lice are spread very easily. Close contact or sharing personal belongings, such as hats, combs and headphones puts people at risk. Children ages 3-11 and their families get head lice most often. Let me reassure you, getting head lice has nothing to do with cleanliness and does not reflect poorly on you as a parent.

If you suspect your child is infected with head lice, inform your day care, preschool or school. The local public health department and your family physician should also be contacted. Every family member must be checked.

Several insecticidal treatments are available. However, UW-Extension entomology specialist Phil Pellitteri indicates that insecticide shampoos often don’t work. He does not recommend use of any insecticide product because of resistance issues. He also advises caution with an anise product as it can burn.

“I get a lot of feedback from public health nurses that olive oil does work and very often is more effective than the insecticide shampoos,” Pellitteri said. Leave olive oil on hair for eight hours. Other natural plant-based oils also work, Pellitteri said, but he does not recommend the use of petroleum based oils such as petroleum jelly or WD40.

Using a lice comb is important. Combing is the oldest and safest method of lice control. It takes time and requires patience on the part of both parent and child. You can completely avoid insecticide shampoos/rinses if you comb the hair to remove lice and nits, but you must be diligent. A Nebraska Extension video shows how to use a comb to remove lice. The Web address to view the video is http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/lice/video.shtml.

You will need to wash bedding, towels and recently worn clothing in hot, soapy water in a washing machine. Dry at 140 degrees in the dryer. Vacuum the carpets, pillows, mattresses, overstuffed furniture and car seats.

Items that are not washable (stuffed animals and pillows) can be stored in tightly sealed plastic bags for two weeks. Lice and their eggs will be killed if they freeze so some items can be placed in a freezer overnight.