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Key Points
- Children are likely to face lice outbreaks at daycare or school due to close contact with each other, but there are preventative measures parents can take to avoid this inconvenience.
- Contrary to common belief, head lice has nothing to do with hygiene and is mostly transmitted through direct, head-to-head contact. It's important to educate children about this to reduce the chances of them getting lice.
- Practical steps to deter lice include keeping the child's hair pulled back tight and using hair products like gel, mousse, spray or mint-based products to keep stray hairs in place.
- If a child does get lice, early detection through signs like nits, scalp scratching, or small red bumps on the back of the neck can make treatment faster and easier. Treatment options range from manual nit removal to professional services.
- While preventing lice may seem challenging, simple preventative measures can save the hassle of dealing with a lice infestation.
Having children means at some point you are likely to be faced with an outbreak of lice either at their daycare or school. As their parent, you do not want your child to have to go through long, tedious hair lice treatments nor the uncomfortable itching often associated with it, and therefore want to avoid a lice infestation at all costs. This can be very difficult, especially since young kids are often in close contact with each other, with little regard for personal space. There are some steps you can take to try and prevent your child from catching head lice, but if they do catch it there are a variety of treatment options available that should have everything back to normal in no time.
Avoid Lice Like the Plague
A case of head lice can be a tremendous inconvenience for you, and it can also be very embarrassing for your child. Having head lice is often viewed as something ‘dirty” but this is far from true. Having head lice has absolutely nothing to do with hygiene. Yet despite this fact, children with lice are often teased by their classmates. It is important to know the facts about how head lice are transmitted to lessen the odds of your child contracting a case of it. More than 90% of head lice cases are transmitted through direct, head to head contact. The chance of contracting head lice through the sharing of hats, brushes or helmets is unusual. This is because lice eggs or “nits” are not capable of hatching off of a human head and the lice bugs themselves can usually survive for only 24 hours. Explain to them, and remind them often, why they should avoid head to head contact with other children. Of course, this is easier said than done. The best prevention for head lice is awareness and frequent checks by the parent.
If possible keeping hair pulled back tight in a braid or bun can help deter lice. Adding gel, mousse or spray may also help because it helps keep flyaway hairs in place and reduces the likelihood of a bug crawling into the hair. In addition, spraying the hair with a mint based product may help to deter them.
What if It Didn’t Work, My Kid Has Lice
If, despite your best efforts, your child wound up with lice, don’t worry. Catching the early signs such as seeing nits, noticing your child scratching their scalp, or seeing small red bumps on the back of the neck will help make treating it faster and easier.
As for hair lice treatments, there are a number of options. You can sit and try to pick out the nits yourself, or you can take your child to a professional and have them make sure that each and every nit is removed—lessening the chance that you will miss one and the infestation will come back or spread to another member of your household.
Trying to keep your child from getting lice may seem like an impossible task, but a few simple preventative measures may save everyone the headache of having to deal with lice.
About the Author
Tina Smith is a CRN and School Nurse who has over 20 years of experience in the children's health care field. In her spare time, Tina enjoys blogging about various children’s health issues such as diet, exercise, and hygiene.
Frequently asked questions
What are some measures to prevent my child from getting lice?
Some measures include teaching your child to avoid head to head contact with other children, conducting frequent checks for lice, and keeping your child's hair pulled back tight in a braid or bun. Using hair products like gel, mousse, or spray can also help by keeping stray hairs in place. Additionally, using a mint-based product may help deter lice.How are head lice usually transmitted?
More than 90% of head lice cases are transmitted through direct, head to head contact. Transmission through shared items like hats, brushes, or helmets is unusual because lice eggs or "nits" cannot hatch off of a human head and lice bugs can usually only survive for 24 hours off the head.Is getting lice related to poor hygiene?
No, getting head lice has absolutely nothing to do with hygiene. It is a common misconception that lice infestation is related to cleanliness, but this is not true.What are some early signs that my child might have lice?
Early signs of lice infestation include noticing your child scratching their scalp, seeing small red bumps on the back of their neck, or spotting nits in their hair.What should I do if my child gets lice?
If your child gets lice, don't panic. Start by identifying the signs such as nits, scratching, or red bumps. For treatment, you can try to pick out the nits yourself, or take your child to a professional who can ensure that each nit is removed. This reduces the chance that you will miss one and the infestation will return or spread to another family member.Can lice survive off of a human head?
Lice bugs can usually only survive for 24 hours off of a human head. The eggs or "nits" are not capable of hatching off of a human head.Is it common for children to contract lice through shared items like hats or brushes?
No, it is unusual for lice to be transmitted through the sharing of items like hats, brushes, or helmets. The majority of lice cases are transmitted through direct head to head contact.Can certain hair products deter lice?
Yes, adding gel, mousse, or spray to your child's hair can help deter lice because these products keep stray hairs in place, reducing the likelihood of a bug crawling into the hair. Additionally, mint-based products may help to repel lice.
