What is it?
Lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp and hair.  They hatch from small greyish eggs, called nits, that are about the size of a sesame seed.  The nits attach firmly to the base of hairs often behind the ears and neck.  The lice crawl over and bite the scalp, causing itching.

How is it Spread?
Lice are spread by close contact between people.  The lice and nits can also be shed onto combs, brushes, hats clothes, stuffed animals, towels, pillows, bedding, furniture, and carpets.  They can spread by sharing these items.

When is it Contagious?
Lice is contagious as long as the insects or nits are alive.  Nits usually hatch in 7-10 days, and the louse can live for 20-30 days.  When lice and nits are off the body (e.g.on clothes, etc.) they do not survive for more than 7 days.

How is it Diagnosed and Treated?
Lice are diagnosed by identifying nits or lice in the scalp and hair.  Lice is treated by applying a special insecticide shampoo (e.g., Lindane, Permethrin, Kwell, NIX, RID, Eurax).  Consult your health care provider for the appropriate treatment since the medication can be dangerous for infants and women who are pregnant or nursing.  Afterward, the nits must all be removed carefully with a fine-tooth comb or by hand.  Rinsing the hair in a vinegar solution (half vinegar, half water) can help loosen the nits.  Sometimes a second treatment is needed 2 weeks later to kill the nits that may have survived and hatcvhed into lice.

Should the Child Stay Home?
A child with lice should be sent home from the program and may return the day after treatment is completed and he is free of nits.

How Can We Limit the Spread?

• Since lice often spread to other children and adults in child care and the family, check everyone carefully for lice and nits, and treat if necessary.  Follow the same measures in child care and at home at the same time.
• Wash combs and brushes in the anti-lice shampoo; Boil in water for 10 minutes; OR Soak in bleach solution (1/4 cup bleach in 1 gallon water) for 1 hour, and air dry.
• Launder all clothes, linen, bedding, stuffed animals, and small carpets in a machine with detergent and hot water.  Dry in a hot dryer or press with a hot iron.  Fon non-washable items (e.g., hats, pillows), dry-clean or seal in a plastic bag for 10-14 days.
• Vacuum all carpets and upholstered furniture.
• Do not share personal care itmes such as combs and brushes.
• Separate personal clothes (e.g., jackets) and bedding in individual cubbies for each child.
• After 1-2 weeks, recheck everyone for nits and lice.  Repeat the treatment if necessary

Information provided on this page is not intended to provide medical advice or take the place of medical treatment.  The recommendations do not indicate a course of treatment or medical care.

These are guidelines to develop policies and procedures for preventing, recognizing and managing communicable disease in child care.  If the children in your care have been exposed to this disease, you may copy this exposure notice and hand out to your day care parents.

This Exposure Notice has been copied from "Keeping Kids Healthy, Preventing and Managing Communicable Disease in Child Care", a project of the The Center for Health Training funded by the California Department of Education, Child Development Division.