Head Lice

Please Note: The Crawford County R-I School District has adopted a "No live bug" policy. Any live bugs or untreated nits found will result in the parent/guardian being called to pick up their child from school. The child must NOT ride the bus until cleared by the school nurse. Please, after treating your child, drive them to school and bring them to the school nurse's office to be checked. The child will not be permitted to ride the bus until cleared by the school nurse.

Anyone can get head lice. Head lice are very small brownish-colored insects that live on the head. They are less than 1/8" long, about this size [--]. They lay eggs (nits) close to the scalp. The eggs are tiny (size of a tip of a small needle) and gray or white in color.

Symptoms: Itching of the head and neck. Look for crawling lice in the hair, eggs (nits) glued to the hair shafts (often found behind the ears and at back of neck), and scratch marks on the head or back of the neck at the hairline. If your child is infested with lice it will take 7-10 days from when the eggs are laid until they hatch.

Close up of head lice

Spread: By head-to-head contact. Lice do not jump or fly; they crawl and can fall off the head. Head lice do not live longer than 48 hours off the head. They only lay their eggs while on the head. Lice do not spread to or from pets.

Contagious Period: Until treated with a lice killing product.

Prevention:

  • Never share hair grooming items & hair accessories (barrettes, combs, brushes, etc.) Clean all hair items by soaking in the lice treatment product for 10 minutes or cleaning with hot, soapy or boiling water for 5 minutes.
  • Never share towels, bedding, clothing, hats, and headgear.
  • Check your child's head every month. If one person in the home has head lice, others should be checked too. Sleepovers are a common place for head lice to spread. Check your child's head after a sleepover and wash all bedding brought home from the sleepover.
  • Vacuum carpets, upholstered furniture, mattresses, and seats in the car(s) thoroughly.
  • Wash clothing worn in the last 3 days (e.g., jackets, hats, scarves, pajamas) bedding, and towels in hot water and dry in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes before using again. Clothing, stuffed toys, linens, or backpacks that cannot be washed or dried can be dry cleaned or sealed in plastic for 2 weeks.
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