The head louse is a tiny, wingless parasitic insect that lives among human hairs and feeds on extremely small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Although they may sound gross, lice (the plural of louse) are a very common problem, especially for kids ages 3 to 12 years (girls more often than boys).

Lice aren’t dangerous and they don’t spread disease, but they are contagious and can just be downright annoying. Their bites may cause a child’s scalp to become itchy and inflamed, and persistent scratching may lead to skin irritation and even infection.

Having head lice is not a sign of uncleanliness or poor hygiene. The pesky little bugs can be a problem for all ages and socioeconomic levels, no matter how often they do or don’t clean their hair and bathe.

• Wash all bed linens and clothing that’s recently been worn by anyone in your home who’s infested in very hot water (130 degrees F or 54.4 degrees C), then out them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.

• Have bed linens, clothing, and stuffed animals and plush toys that can’t be washed dry cleaned. Or, put them in airtight bags for 2 weeks.
• Vacuum carpets and any upholstered furniture in your home and car.
• Soak hair-care items like combs, barrettes, hair ties or bands, headbands, and brushes in rubbing alcohol or medicated shampoo for 1 hour. You can also wash them in hot water or just throw them away. 

Will They Ever Be Gone?

As many parents know firsthand, lice infestation can be a persistent nuisance, especially in group settings. If your child still has lice and you’ve followed every recommendation, it could be because:

• Some nits were left behind
• Your child is still being exposed to someone with lice
• The treatment you’re using isn’t effective

There’s no doubt that they can be hard bugs to get rid of. If your child still has lice 2 weeks after you started treatment or if your child’s scalp looks infected, call your doctor.