Off The Record
Head Lice Prevention For Children And Adults
Children will play in daycare centers and in schools. Additionally, head lice could spread as a result of their play. You can, however, take precautions to stop lice from spreading to adults and children.
The following advice can help stop lice from spreading:
- Share nothing touching the head, such as towels or combs.
- Steer clear of activities that result in direct touch.
- Keep personal items out of common spaces like coat closets, especially apparel for the upper body.
Continue reading to find out more about head lice prevention methods and what to do if your child becomes infected.
1. Don’t share things that touch your head
Start by avoiding sharing objects that come into contact with the head to lessen the likelihood that you or your child will contract head lice.
Sharing personal items might be alluring, particularly with children, but lice can go from an object to your head. Don’t share:
- brushes and combs
- hair accessories and clips
- caps and helmets for bikes
- jackets, scarves, towels
- earphones and headsets
2. Reduce direct head-to-head contact
Children may instinctively tuck their heads together while they play. However, your child might bring head lice home if their friend does.
Encourage your child to stay away from sports and other activities that put them in direct competition with classmates or other peers. Adults would be well advised to abide by the same rule, particularly those who work with youngsters.
Pull long hair back into a braid or ponytail. Sterilize a small section of hair to help keep stray hair in check.
3. Separate personal belongings
Common areas and possessions can serve as lice breeding habitats. Common clothing hangers, lockers, drawers, and closets can all provide an easy way for lice to move from one person’s belongings to another.
Request that your child keep their possessions out of public spaces, particularly their jackets, hats, scarves, and other apparel. Adults should adopt comparable safety measures.
What to do when you know
Determining the presence or absence of head lice is not always simple. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, it is not always the case that symptoms like itching appear for up to six weeks after lice infestation.
In some cases, a parent will become aware of a child’s head lice infestation prior to an epidemic. Make sure that neither you nor your child touch the furniture, mattresses, clothes, or towels of someone you know has lice.
Early actions
In order for parents to take preventive action with their families, schools may disclose cases of head lice infestation. In the event that this occurs, intervene quickly. Check your child’s hair for tiny white nits, which are lice eggs. Examine your child’s clothing, paying special attention to coats, caps, shirts, scarves, and other items that have been worn in the last 48 hours, for lice and eggs.
Other ideas
In the event that the school where your child attends reports head lice, you can also:
- Examine mattresses, carpets, and towels—all of which have a higher chance of harboring lice and their eggs.
- Make sure your youngster understands the significance of keeping objects that touch the head or ears to themselves.
- Describe lice to your child and the reason they should not touch other children’s heads until the school has taken care of the issue.
- It’s possible that medication won’t stop lice.
More studies are required, according to the Mayo Clinic, to substantiate the efficacy and safety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications that make lice prevention claims.
Certain compounds included in over-the-counter products may repel lice, according to a few studies. Among these components are:
- tea
- tree
- rosemar
- lemongrass
- citronella
- eucalyptus
The Food and Drug Administration does not oversee or approve these products (FDA).
Take precautions
Lice can spread quickly between people, especially children who share possessions or come into close touch with one another.
Even if you model proper hygiene for your children and yourself, this still holds true. However, you might be able to stop your child from acquiring or spreading lice by following a few safety measures.
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