Head Lice
Head lice are tiny insects that live in human hair. They range in size from a “speck of dirt” to ¼ “ in length. The female louse will lay 7-10 eggs or “nits” per day for up to 30 days; she lays them on hair strands within ¼ “ of the scalp. The nits are attached with a glue-like substance secreted by the female and feel like a grain of sand or salt. The louse matures in the egg for 7 days and then hatches, becoming an adult within a week.
Head lice fall and crawl. They do not jump or fly. They are transmitted from borrowed hats, ribbons, scarves, combs, and/or brushes. They “hide” in upholstered furniture, including that in your car, and in bedding.
If you think someone in your family has head lice, contact the Health Department for a “head check”. If there is a lice infestation, we will guide you through the treatment process. Children will be excluded from school until they are “nit free”. A release from the Health Department is required for readmittance to school. (A release from the health care provider will not be accepted unless the child is “nit free”.) Siblings may attend school if they are free from infestation.
Treatment & Prevention
Please see this fact sheet (.pdf, 13k) from the Wisconsin Division of Public Health for information about headlice and treatment.
How to Check
- Check the hair dividing the hair in l/4" widths.
- Check the entire scalp and hair in a systematic manner.
- Look for particles on the hair strand. Nits are small egg cases (<1/4” long) and attached by the female louse to hair strand with a fixative cement. Nits feel like a grain of sand or salt.
- If a nit is suspected, isolate the hair strand and attempt to dislodge the particle with
gently tapping hair strand. If particle is dislodged, it is not a nit.
- Be sure to check at the nape of the neck and behind the ears.
Need more information?
Visit http://www.headlice.org
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