Head Lice Facts & Fiction

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• Dual head and home applications prevent re-infestation
• Soothing, natural ingredients relieve itchy, irritated scalps
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Head lice have been plaguing humans for thousands of years. Dead lice have even been found clinging to prehistoric mummy hair! Despite the fact that lice have been with us for millennia, there are many common misconceptions about head lice and how they are transmitted.

Head Lice Facts

• Fact: Head lice are tiny wingless insects that feed on human blood.
• Fact: Head lice are very common.
• Fact: Head lice are extremely contagious.
• Fact: Head lice can be very difficult to eradicate.
• Fact: Pesticides may not be the best way to control head lice.
• Fact: Pesticides can be dangerous to your child's health when used incorrectly.
• Fact: Head lice are becoming resistant to many common pesticides, reducing the effectiveness of common over-the-counter and prescription head lice treatments.

Head Lice Fiction

• Fiction: Head lice spread disease: In fact, head lice do not spread disease. They do cause itching, which may cause your child to scratch, which can cause infection.

• Fiction: Pets can catch head lice and transmit them to other family members: In reality, pets cannot catch head lice.

• Fiction: Head lice are a sign of poor hygiene: Actually, anyone can be infested with head lice. It doesn't matter how clean your hair is. Head lice are equal-opportunity infesters!

• Fiction: Head lice are only spread through hats, combs, brushes, and helmets: In fact, head lice can be transmitted through close, personal head-to-head contact or by wearing an item of clothing with head lice on it. Head lice cannot survive long off the host so it is less common to transfer through clothing items.

• Fiction: Head lice can jump from one person's head to another's: Head lice cannot jump or fly.

• Fiction: A dirty house causes head lice infestation: Head lice cannot live apart from a person's scalp for more than a few hours. Therefore, head lice can't live in bedding or on a couch for more than a day. So, although a dirty house may cause health problems, head lice is not one of them.

• Fiction: If you find nits in your child's hair, you should pull them out of school and begin treatment for head lice immediately.

Natural shampoos are available to wash away lice and nits. More and more people are turning to this method because of the increased risk of over the counter lice shampoos.

Sources:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6556831

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/lice.html