Head lice are tiny six-legged insects that are blood-sucking parasites. They live on the scalp of humans.

The evidence for head lice goes back many centuries. Lice was named as the third plague in the Old Testament of the Bible. The shell casings for lice have been found on Egyptian mummies.

In the majority of cases, head lice is passed with head-to-head contact. A smaller number of cases are passed through brushes and combs and sharing hats. Lice don’t like to leave their food supply unless a warm head is waiting for them.

Head lice actually prefer clean hair! It’s more difficult for them to lay eggs on greasy or dirty hair.

Head lice can only crawl. The cannot fly-no wings-or jump-no back legs.

Most obvious is an itchy scalp. But not all people with lice itch. Examine the persons hair and look for nits or eggs a ¼ inch from the scalp glued at an angle. They are beige to brown in color.

Anyone can get head lice. They are equal opportunity bugs! Adult usually get them from their children-anyone is at risk!

Common sense cleaning – a MEGA cleaning isn’t necessary! Think of your life as a 24 hour window-where did you sleep,wear,and sit? What clothing or brushes did you use? It’s not necessary to bag everything up.Take a lint roller over these areas and wash bedding-focus on combing the hair to remove ALL nits and lice. Lice do not live in your home!

If the female head lice are fertilized they can start laying eggs right away. The female lice usually travel in harems with 7-8 females and one male. This is why head lice can escalate and multiply quickly with females laying eight to ten eggs daily.

One louse can live on the head 30 days.

Not always! The itching is caused by an allergic reaction caused by the saliva that the louse injects upon feeding to clot the blood. Not everyone is allergic and may not itch for 2 weeks. Half the population doesn’t itch at all!

Yes

Credit Card and Cash

More head lice is reported during school year. Head lice happens all the time but is more evident during school when others are checking.

All of greater Dublin

I suggest two treatments within 4-5 days apart. I also suggest combing with the lice comb from MHH twice a week for two weeks while lice is being treated.

The best way to prevent lice is for girls to put the hair up or back as to not have strands of hair dangling for lice to crawl across easily. Also “once a week –take a peek” check your child’s hair with the lice comb looking for evidence of lice. Also use the mint spray repellant from MHH to deter lice from child’s hair.

Head lice leave a scent behind on the hair that attract other lice. I liken it to a dog doing his business on the same spot that is familiar to them.

Head lice know where they have been and like to return! Keep repellant on to deter lice from your hair.