Myths and Facts About Head Lice

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT HEAD LICE

There is a lot of misinformation about lice and lice management. Below is a list of lice myths and lice facts:

Myth - It is easy to get lice. Fact - It is harder than you think; it is spread by head to head contact. Strep throat and pink eye are spread much more easily.

Myth - Lice are often spread via hats and helmets. Fact - This is rare but possible. More common modes of transmission, other than head to head contact, are from hairbrushes, pillows and sheets.

Myth - Poor hygiene contributes to lice. Fact - Hygiene is not a factor. Lice appear to prefer clear hair to dirty hair.

Myth - You can get lice from your pets. Fact - You can not get lice from your pets or spread lice to your pets. Lice are species specific. You get human lice from another human only.

Myth - Lice can jump or fly from one person to another. Fact - Lice can only crawl, they can not jump or fly. They crawl quickly from head to head.

Myth – Lice eggs (nits) can fall out of the hair, hatch and cause lice in another person. Fact - Nits are cemented to the hair, they can not fall off. The must be manually removed.

Myth - Lice symptoms, itchy scalp, start right away. Fact - By the time lice is discovered, the child had usually had them for 3-4 weeks.

Myth - Lice live a long time. Fact - Newly hatched lice larvae must find must have a blood meal on the head quickly or they die. Lice live only 1-2 days off the head.

Myth - All members of a family should be treated if one person has lice. Fact - Only the person with lice needs to be treated. Lice shampoos are insecticides and can be dangerous if used incorrectly or too frequently. The house should not be sprayed with insecticide nor should insecticide be used on clothing or other items.

Myth - School is a common place for lice transmission. Fact - School is a very rare source of transmission. Lice are much more likely to be spread among family members, overnight guests and playmates that spend a lot of time together.

Myth - Avoiding lice is important as they spread disease. Fact - Lice do not spread any known disease.

Fact to remember: Lice are spread by having close personal contact with someone else who has lice.

Information from National School Nurse Journal, November, 2011, page 357-362. www.nssn.org