Super Head Lice

About: Head lice are parasites that live on the human head and hide in hair. They are very hard to see, the eggs and lice are very small and you need really good light to see them. They hide in the hair very well, so when you are looking for them you may not see the actual bugs, but you might see the nits or eggs on the hair shaft close to the scalp. The fully grown adult looks like the shape of one rice kernel.

Lifecycle: Head lice live for about a month. If you have head lice they hatch after about a week and they start mating several days later. The nits need to be stuck close to the scalp and the louse is born after a week.

Discovery: Head lice and super head lice are very hard to see. They hide in the hair and attach themselves to one strand of hair. So when you part the hair you most likely will not see them. So looking for the nits on the hair is essential and also looking for bites on the scalp if the person reacts to the bugs but not all people react to the bites.

Elimination: You have to get something that will kill the bugs, where I live the bugs are not killed with a pesticide, they must be eliminated with natural products or with a heat application on the hair/head. The nits or eggs most be combed out of the head especially if the product you are using does not render the nits unviable. Before you start treating the hair the house needs to be “cleaned” that means all toys that are stuffed animals or anything with hair or feathers must be bagged up and sealed tightly for a month. The whole house should also be vacuumed on the first day. The following needs to be done during the week/day(s) while treating for the lice:

• 1. Daily heat treat linens, pillows, pj’s, and stuffed animals anything slept with for 30 minutes of high heat in the dryer.
• 2. Vacuum mattresses and around beds 3. Vacuum furniture and floors where people have been.
• 3. Vacuum furniture and floors where people have been.
• 4. Bag and tie up clothes worn during the day and heat treat the clothes in the dryer, they can be washed first on hot. Be sure to only use the bag for dirty clothes.
• 5. Store combs and brushes in the freezer. You can put them in a ziplock bag. After using brushes and combs, immediately put them back in the freezer.

Prevention: If you really want to avoid getting head lice again, you really need to tell the people you have had contact with in the past month that they have been exposed to lice. You need to tell your children’s friend’s parent. There are other things that you can do.

• 1. You can put backpacks, bags, purses in the dryer on high for 30 minutes as soon as you get home.
• 2. After buying clothes from the store place then in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes.
• 3. Look before you sit, look for any bugs on the seat.
• 4. Avoid touching your head to other’s heads.
• 5. Avoid wearing other people’s hats, coats, jackets and sunglasses.
• 6. Avoid using other people’s hair brushes, combs, hair ties, barrettes and other hair accessories.