What You Need to Know About Head Lice

What You Need to Know About Head Lice

Lice are pesky, contagious creatures, and in a classroom setting, they can spread quickly. In fact, the CDC estimates that anywhere from six to 12 million children aged three to 11 suffer from head lice each year. Lake Forrest Prep, a private school in Orlando, wants you to know your treatment options when it comes to lice.

Treatment

Lice are found on the scalp, often behind the ears or on the nape of the neck. When your child has lice, they’ll be suffering from an itchy scalp and occasionally red bumps or sores from scratching. Luckily, there are plenty of lice treatment options available both over-the-counter and with a prescription. 

At-Home
Over-the-counter head lice treatments include medicated shampoos, lotions, and cream rinses. Be sure to check the bottle to make sure your child is in the correct age range to be using the medication. For the safest treatment, consult with your family’s pediatrician. 

Along with medicated treatments, you can also remove lice by hand. Every three to four days, wash and condition your child’s hair. While it is still wet, and before the conditioner has been rinsed out, brush through it using a fine-tooth comb. This should make the lice easy to remove. 

At the Doctor’s
Some lice have grown resistant to over-the-counter treatments. If lice seem to be persisting, it’s recommended to visit your pediatrician. They’ll be able to prescribe a safe, prescription-strength solution to get rid of the lice. 

In the House
Lice are incredibly contagious, so it’s important to treat your house as much as you can. Lice spread through head-to-head contact, such as sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats. To prevent lice from spreading, wash all bed linens, stuffed animals, and clothing in hot water. 

Hand holding bubbles from soap

Returning to School

With treatment, a child who has lice can return to school the very next day. Be careful to reexamine your child’s head to ensure that all lice and eggs have been removed.  

Lice is never fun, but luckily it is easy to treat. If you have any questions about a private school in Orlando’s policies on lice, colds, or more, just give us a call at (407) 331-5144.