Head Lice

Head lice have been making a comeback in recent years, and more and more families, schools, and child care centers are having to deal with these obnoxious creatures.

	Head lice, Pediculus humanus capitas, are small parasites that live in the hair on people's heads and feed on our blood. They are most common among school-aged children, but anyone of any age can get head lice. Despite the stigma attached to having head lice, they are not a sign of being poor, dirty, or having poor hygiene.
	Head lice develop through gradual metamorphosis, which means that the immature lice (nymphs) look a lot like the adults, except that they are smaller. Adult females attach their eggs (often called nits) to individual hairs with a very strong glue that resists the nits being shaken off or easily removed. (They can be removed, however, by using a special fine-toothed comb and a shampoo designed to soften the glue.) Lice don't jump or fly. They are transmitted between people by close physical contact, sharing clothing (especially hats and scarves) or furnishings (especially pillows), or simply by crawling from one person's head onto another.

Head Lice and Human Health

Although head lice can cause severe itching and irritation (which may lead to infection when the affected person scratches), they are not known to transmit any serious diseases. But the emotional distress of having "bugs" in one's hair can be quite traumatic, especially for children, who may become targets of merciless taunting and teasing for having "bugs" or "cooties."

Prevention of Head Lice

There are a few precautions that can reduce the chances of getting head lice. For example, parents should teach their children to avoid close contact with people who are known to be infested, and to not share clothing, combs, hairbrushes, or pillows.

In schools and day-care centers, there are some steps that can help prevent head lice problems (or at least reduce their frequency), such as:

• Carpeting and nap cots should be frequently shampooed.
• Hooks in coat rooms should be spaced at least a foot apart.
• Children should be assigned individual seats, nap cots, and cubbies. Extra clothing should be stored in plastic bags or containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Children should be taught to not share clothing.
• Teachers, the school nurse, and other direct-care staff should be taught to recognize the signs of a possible head lice infestation, and how to sensitively handle the situation should it arise.

Buckingham Pest Control is available to consult with administrators of any facility where head lice are a problem regarding ways to minimize the risk of transmission.

Controlling Head Lice

Buckingham Pest Control does not treat human beings for head lice or any other parasite. People suffering from head lice should be treated by (or under the supervision of) a doctor, public-health nurse, pharmacist, or other qualified health care professional. Please click here for an excellent fact sheet on head lice treatment, prepared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Where a skilled exterminator can help is by treating the homes and furnishings of people suffering from head lice. Head lice often crawl or fall from affected people's heads and clothing onto furniture, carpeting, and other inanimate objects; so simply treating the affected person without also treating their environment may result in their being re-infested and needing to be treated over and over again. We can help stop this cycle.

Please contact us for more information on head lice or any other pest problem. Buckingham Pest Control serves the Greater St. Louis, Missouri area.