Contracting head lice may be a rite of passage for many young students, as relatively few kids finish their elementary years without being affected due to the nature of lice and how they spread. Lice have basically been living on and around humans since the beginning of time. They are so ingrained in human history that the everyday expressions such as “lousy”, “nit-picking”, and “going over something with a fine-toothed comb” all stem from lice infestations! Contrary to popular belief, contracting head lice does not indicate that a person is in any way unhygienic or unclean. Read more about lice, how it spreads, how to avoid infestation and what you can do if your child comes home with lice.

1. GUIDE
TO
LICE
A
PANIC
FRE
E

2. head lice
most common in
preschool &
school-aged children
will be spent on lice treatments in
the United States this year alone

3. LICE ARE easiest to treat in THEIR
infancy. dELOUSE YOUR HOUSE AT
THE FIRST SIGN OF AN INFESTATION.

4. Nits will hatch
after 6-9 days
incubation on
a hair shaft
Head lice are parasitic insects
that only attack humans –
they don’t choose pets as hosts.
Lice can only crawl,
they can‘t hop or jump

5. Sharing infected combs & brushes,
towels, pillows & clothes
head-to-head
contact(hugs & close play)
You can only catch lice
from another human

6. Diligently check
your childwhen they’ve been exposed
detect & treat early
infestations to prevent
the spread to others.
DID YOU KNOW THAT DAILY
BATHING IS NOT EFFECTIVE
PREVENTION FOR LICE?

7. Lice won’t just go away
on their own. follow this
treatment plan to rid
your home of an outbreak.
Put combs, brushes,
hair accessories in
a sealed baggie &
freeze for 24 hours

8. Be wary of do-it-yourself/
home remedies for lice,
they have not been
evaluated for safety and
effectiveness by the Food
& Drug Administration.

9. If you find head lice in
your child’s hair, notify
the school or daycare center.
This will inform other parents who can check
their own children to stop the spread of lice.
If you‘re still having trouble after treatment,
we recommend you see your primary care
physician or dermatologist for further care.