Information for Preteens:
Body Science, About Head Lice

Lice are very small insects. They are parasites: lice need blood to survive. So, they like to stay on people's scalps to get blood and lay eggs in their hair.

Lice move from someone else's head to yours – you do not necessarily have to touch your hair to the hair of someone with head lice. The lice can go from hair to pillows, headbands, headphones, hairbrushes, or hats.

• Who gets lice?
• What do lice look like?
• How can you avoid getting lice?
• What should you do if you think you have lice?
• What should you do during and after the shampoo treatment?

Who gets lice?

• Lice can get on anyone's head, whether that person is clean, dirty. or in any grade at school.
• Lice spread in classrooms and schools because kids play together closely and often share things more than adults do.
• Approximately 6 million to 12 million people get lice every year – most of them are kids.

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What do lice look like?

Lice are brown and gray, about the size of a sesame seed. If there's a louse (the word for just one bug) on your head, it will first lay eggs, called nits.

Nits take about two weeks to hatch. After the nits hatch they will attach themselves to your hair and bite your scalp for blood. Louse bites do not hurt because they are so small, but they are very itchy.

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How can you avoid getting lice?

• Don't share pillows, hairbrushes, headbands, hats, or headphones.
• You may not be able to avoid lice completely, especially if lots of kids at your school have them. But don't worry, lice is treatable.

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What should you do if you think you have lice?

If you have a very itchy head, tell your parents. At PAMF, we recommend Dr. David Pearlman's method for treating lice.

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What should you do during and after the shampoo treatment?

If you or a family member has head lice, it is a good idea to vacuum the carpets and all furniture that has cloth on it because lice could be living on them. Wash all of your pillows and sheets.

Put blankets and stuffed animals in plastic bags (airtight) for at least 10 days to kill the lice. Wash any hair accessories or hairbrushes with hot water or anti-louse shampoo or throw them away.

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