Preparing your children to return to school consists of shopping for the proper uniform, books, supplies, and more. But what else does returning to school mean? Children gathering together, hanging school bags and coats on the same hooks, and creating the perfect environment for head lice. That’s right! The dreaded, but common infestation of head lice at school is inevitable. It’s not a topic talked about in the parent drop off line, or on the back to school syllabus, but every parent worries in silence.

Head lice can be a problem at any time of the year, but lice infestation tends to peak in the fall when children return to school. The most common ages affected are between 3 and 11 years of age, no matter the social standing or hygiene of the host. Children with long hair are more often the unwilling host of these bugs.

What are Head Lice?

Head lice are small blood-sucking insects visible to the eye. Their choice of host is exclusively human. You will not find them on your family pet. They generally feed on a human scalp for 4-6 hours and lay between 4-5 eggs per day. Lice eggs, also know as “nits”, can often be mistaken for dandruff, because of their placement on the hair shaft.

How to identify the difference between lice eggs and dandruff? Dandruff can be removed from your child’s hair with the brush of your hand, while nits are attached with a glue-like substance. This substance requires you pull them off the strands of hair, one by one.

Symptoms of Head Lice

An intense, constant itch is the most common symptom of head lice. It can often take up to 2-4 weeks for the scalp to itch resulting in a possible infestation. Head lice lay eggs daily, causing them to multiply quickly. For early detection you should examine the scalp often.

Checking Your Child for Head Lice

Use a bright light when checking your child for head lice. Separate the hair into sections, to easily locate nits. Lice eggs are commonly found behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. Nits have a grey or caramel color when laid. Once the eggs hatch, the color will change to a yellow or white color.

Prevention of Head Lice

Educate yourself about head lice. Then, share your knowledge with your children. Teach them to avoid head to head contact and sharing anything that touches the head. Those items include; hairbrushes, combs, hair accessories, hats, scarves, helmets, earphones and towels. Think about limiting sleepovers. If your child does have a sleepover, wash the bedding and pajamas the next morning.

What Should You Do If Alerted of a School Infestation?

If you receive notice that your child’s school has been infested with lice, you should be sure to do the following:

• Check your child’s hair for lice or nits.

• Check and/or clean items that can carry lice or their eggs. Towels, bedding, brushes, and items that have been at school are your prime suspects.

• Reinforce the knowledge you have learned about lice with your child. Stress the importance of avoiding head to head contact and sharing any items that can be contaminated by lice and their eggs.

What Should You do if You Find Lice or Nits?

There are two FDA approved over-the-counter treatments for Lice and their eggs. You can find these ingredients in products like Rid, Triple X, Pronto and Nix. Follow these steps to rid your child of lice and their eggs:

• Begin treatment with one of these products, but be sure to re-check the treated scalp about 8 to 12 hours after the first application.

• If the lice are still as active after the treatment, the medicine may not be working. Do not treat again. Talk to your dermatologist about other options.

• If the treatment is working, avoid shampooing the hair again for at least 2 days. This lets the medication continue to work. Repeat the whole process in 1 week. Continue to comb through the hair once a day for at least 3 weeks to be sure you remove the lice and their nits. This is often easier to do with wet hair.

• Launder all bedding, clothing, and items that could have been infested. Wash with hot water of 130 degrees or higher and dry on high heat for at least 20 minutes or more. This will kill any lice or eggs that are present. If an item cannot be laundered, be sure to secure those items in an air-tight bag, for at least 2 weeks.

• Vacuuming rugs, floors and beds are a good idea when trying to rid your home of any invaders. Be sure to empty your vacuum into a sealed bag and place outside of your home.

• Soak hair products such as; brushes and combs in hot water at 130 degrees or higher for at least 10 minutes. Replacement of hair products are recommended, but not mandatory.

Overwhelmed by Head Lice

If this is your first encounter with head lice, it can be a bit overwhelming. Just remember, with time and dedication, your life will return to normal within a few weeks of infestation and treatment.

If you are having a difficult time ridding the lice that invaded your home, and the money to eliminate them, then you may need financial assistance. With a payday loan you can get a quick cash advance on your paycheck. If you require more money, then a title loan might be a better solution for you. Take the time to consider your options.