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Head Lice Checklist & Guidelines

HEAD LICE EXIST

Head lice happen, especially on children. Head lice are not a sign of poor hygiene or how clean your home is. Anyone can get them – it doesn’t matter how long your hair is or how much you shower.

Does your child have head lice? Not everyone gets itchy. Use a nit comb on wet hair and look for bugs the size of a sesame seed or tiny eggs glued to the hair. Make it a weekly routine to check everyone in your household.

Here are some helpful guidelines for treating head lice:

ALL TREATMENT STEPS MUST BE DONE ON THE SAME DAY.

  • HOUSE TREATMENT:

  1. Vacuum all carpets, floors, mattresses, furniture, and the car. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag in the outside trash when finished.

  2. Wash ALL clothing and bed linens in HOT water.

  3. NON-WASHABLE items (pillows, stuffed toys, etc.) should either be: dry cleaned, placed in a HOT clothes dryer for 20 minutes, placed in the freezer for 48 hours, or sealed in a plastic bag for 14 days.

  4. Treat ALL brushes and combs by boiling for 10 minutes OR soaking in lice shampoo for 10 minutes.

  • HAIR TREATMENT:

If using commercial lice hair products, treat all affected household members at the SAME TIME. Before application, wash hair with a basic perfume- and conditioner-free shampoo.

  1. Comb hair thoroughly with a clean comb or brush.

  2. Remove ALL NITS with a nit comb, fingernails, or tweezers to prevent REINFESTATION by any nits not killed by the medications. 

  3. Notify all people who have recently been in contact with the exposed household member.

  4. Contact your physician, health department, or school nurse for further directions or advice.

  • SCHOOL NOTIFICATION:

PLEASE NOTIFY THE SCHOOL OFFICE IF YOU TREAT YOUR CHILD FOR HEAD LICE. This information is kept CONFIDENTIAL, but is important in tracking classroom cases to prevent further spread of head lice.

Resources:

CDC Treatment Guidelines Website

Head Lice Directions and Checklists