September is National Head Lice and Prevention Month - also called The All Out Comb Out - to emphasize awareness and focus on screening, early detection and removal of head lice and nits. Mary Stone, MD, a dermatologist at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, says head lice can spread whenever there is direct contact of the head or hair with an infested individual or through the sharing of personal articles like hats, towels, brushes, helmets, hair ties, etc.
"Head lice are found behind the ears and near the hairline at the neck-but can be difficult to see. (They can change color to match the hair.) Nits look like whitish shells found on the hair strand near the scalp. They are firmly attached to the hair shaft and cannot be flicked off easily.
"Head lice may cause scalp itching, redness, and crusting or, unfortunately," Stone says, "no symptoms at all."
Head lice do have no hind legs and cannot jump and don't have wings and cannot fly. Generally, she says, they cannot survive longer than 24 hours off the host. Head lice cannot be "caught" from pets and cannot survive on pets. Lice are human parasites and require human blood for survival.
"If a louse comes off the head and is left behind on a pillow or head rest, it may be possible for the louse to infest another individual who places their head in that area. Vacuuming is recommended for any areas or items that may be in contact with those who are infested.
"Lice are not environmental pests so pesticide sprays for furniture and bedding are unnecessary and a serious risk to health. Vacuuming is the safest and best way to remove lice or fallen hairs with attached nits from upholstered furniture, rugs, stuffed animals and cars.
African Americans have a much lower incidence of head lice than Caucasians, Hispanics or Asian Americans. "Various studies suggest the incidence among African American schoolchildren is less than half of one percent, while the incidence among their non-black schoolmates is usually more than 10 percent.
"Use a nit-removal comb to check everyone. Even if lice are found on an individual, careful consideration should be given before deciding to use a lice killing treatment because each person has unique health vulnerabilities. Lice treatment products are potentially hazardous to health and should not be used "just in case" a child or family member has lice or in an effort to prevent them.
There are no over-the-counter or prescription treatments to kill lice that are totally safe and scientifically proven to be 100 percent effective. These treatments are potentially harmful pesticides and reliance on them promotes repeated use and contributes to ongoing infestations, outbreaks and resistant strains of head lice.
Various 'natural' remedies are vigorously marketed on the Internet but we have found no scientific basis for their claims of efficacy and human safety," she says.
Manual removal of the live lice and nits is the safe alternative and a necessary component of any head lice treatment regimen. The National Pediculosis Association recommends the LiceMeister® Comb to enable families to screen often, detect head lice early and thoroughly remove lice and nits. Manual screening is the only sure way to confirm the complete absence of lice and nits says Stone. |
