1. There are ways to help avoid your child from getting head lice.
2. Eliminating head lice is possible by following the proper actions.
3. Continue to take preventative measures to prevent the spread of lice after an outbreak.
Kids at school and in childcare settings are going to play. And their play might lead to the spread of head lice. However, you can take actions to prevent the spread of lice among children and adults.
Head lice prevention tips
Teach and practice excellent routines
To reduce the opportunity of you or your child capturing a case of head lice, start by not sharing items that touch the head.
It might be appealing to share individual possessions, especially for kids, however lice can crawl from an object to your head. Prevent sharing:
- combs and brushes
- hairpin and devices
- hats and bike helmets
- scarves and coats
- towels
- headsets and earbuds.
Don’t go head-to-head
When kids play, they may naturally place their heads close together. However if your child’s buddy has head lice, your child might get home with it.
Ask your child to prevent games and activities that result in head-to-head contact with schoolmates and other good friends. Adults, specifically those who deal with children, would be smart to follow the same principle.
Put long hair in a ponytail or braid. A small amount of hair spray might help consist of roaming hair.
See also: Dangers of Not Treating Head Lice
Area it out
Shared spaces and shared personal belongings can be reproducing premises for lice. Closets, lockers, drawers, and typical clothing hooks can create an easy opportunity for lice to pass from one person’s things to another’s.
Ask your child to keep their personal belongings– specifically hats, coats, headscarfs, and other clothes– out of common areas. For safety’s sake, adults should take comparable preventative measures.
See also: Home Remedies for Head Lice Treatment
What to do when you understand
It’s not constantly simple to understand who has head lice and who doesn’t. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in some cases it can use up to six weeks for those with lice to experience symptoms such as itching.
Other times, a parent will discover that a child has head lice prior to it’s an epidemic. When you understand somebody has lice, make sure that you and your child avoid touching their furnishings, beds, clothes, and towels.
Early actions
Schools may report a head lice infestation so that parents can take preventive measures with their households. If this takes place, take action as quickly as possible. Search in your child’s hair for small white nits, the eggs of lice. Check your child’s clothes– especially hats, shirts, scarves, and coats– that have been worn during the previous 48 hours, looking for lice and eggs.
Head lice prevention in schools
When your child’s school reports a head lice invasion, you can likewise:
- Inspect household products that are most likely to obtain plagued with lice and their eggs, such as towels, bed linen, and rugs.
- Be sure your child knows the value of not sharing any items that touch the head or ears.
- Explain what lice are, and why your child should avoid touching heads with other children till the school has actually included the issue.
Medicine might not avoid lice
According to the Mayo Clinic, more research is needed to show the effectiveness and safety of over the counter (OTC) medications that declare to avoid lice.
A few studies have suggested certain components in OTC products may drive away lice. These ingredients include:
- rosemary
- lemongrass
- tea tree
- citronella
- eucalyptus.
These products aren’t managed or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Take preventative measures
When individuals, specifically kids, entered close contact or share belongings, lice can quickly pass from someone to another. This is true even if you teach children excellent health and practice it yourself. But by taking some safety measures, you may have the ability to prevent your child from getting or spreading lice.
