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Lice

The Department of Education and the School Safety Committee want all parents to be informed about head lice. We have prepared the fact sheet below to educate our community regarding this condition, and to help minimize its spread.

WHAT ARE HEAD LICE?

Head lice are small grayish-white to brownish-tan insects that can live on the scalp. Adult lice are the size of sesame seeds (such as those found on burger buns).
Head lice are not dangerous and do not transmit disease, but they are contagious. If your child has head lice, please notify the school right away. You also should notify anyone whose child has come in close contact with yours.
Head lice are spread through close, head-to-head contact with someone who has them or, occasionally, by sharing objects such as hats, scarves, combs, and brushes.
Head lice can't fly, hop, or jump but can crawl quickly from person to person.
Having head lice is not a sign of poor hygiene.
Head lice are primarily experienced by children 3-12 years of age and by their families.

WHAT ARE NITS?

Nits are eggs of head lice. They are yellowish-white and about the size of a knot in thread.
Nits stick on to the hair shaft. Live eggs, which will hatch into lice, are usually found within ¼ inch of the scalp.
Dead nits typically are found more than ¼ inch from the scalp.
Nits hatch in 7-10 days and develop into an adult in another 7-10 days. The adult then can then lay more eggs. It is important to remove all live nits to break this cycle.

PREVENTION

If your children have long hair, tie it back in a braid or bun.
Teach your children to avoid head-to-head contact and not to share things that have been on or near another child's head.
Have your children store their hats and scarves in their backpacks.
Anyone who has had close contact with a person with lice should be checked for lice every 2-3 days.
Families should check their children’s heads periodically.

SYMPTOMS

The main symptom of head lice is an itchy scalp that results from the bites of the lice. It may take 2 to 3 weeks before the child experiences itching.
There may be a tickling feeling in the hair or sores on the scalp from scratching.
Nits close to the scalp indicate a likely infestation but may be confused with dandruff, dirt, etc. Licemay also be hard to spot because they move quickly.
Lice and nits are easiest to spot at the neckline and behind the ears.
If you are not sure whether your child has lice, consult a health care provider or a specialist in lice removal.

TREATMENTS

The main treatments for head lice are using a head lice shampoo (check with your pharmacist for recommendations) and then patiently and diligently removing nits with a small-toothed metal comb.
After treatment, check hair and comb with a nit comb to remove nits and lice every 2-3 days. Continue to check for 2-3 weeks.
If you are uncomfortable treating your child, you can use a service. The names of such services are available on the PS 163 PTA website (www.ps163pta.org) or can be found on the PTA bulletin board.
These services may be covered by health insurance.
Consult your healthcare provider if you are having trouble getting rid of lice.
Check everyone in the household for lice and nits every 2-3 days. Treat only if crawling lice or nits within ¼ inch of the scalp are found.

ABOUT MEDICATED SHAMPOOS

When using a head-lice shampoo, be sure to follow the instructions to get rid of all the lice. Repeat in 7-10 days to kill any newly hatched lice.
These shampoos are toxic, and it is thought that some lice have developed resistance to them. Do not use them unless you are sure your child has lice.
Should you wish to consider an alternative treatment, consult with your health care provider.
You must follow up treatment by fastidiously checking for lice and nits. Repeat every 2-3 days.

HOW TO LOOK FOR NITS AND LICE

Wash hair and towel dry. You may want to apply conditioner.
Make sure there is good light, such as daylight or a bright lamp.
First comb the hair with an ordinary comb.
Then use a metal nit comb (available at pharmacies), starting at the top of the head (with teeth touching the scalp) and then carefully combing towards the ends of the hair.
Look carefully at the teeth of the comb in good light, or run the comb over a white towel and look on the towel for lice or nits.
Work around the head, combing slowly and methodically from top, sides, and up from the neck.

TREATING YOUR HOME

Lice survive only 24-48 hours if they fall off a person, so you don't have to spend a lot of time or money on housecleaning activities.
To prevent re-infection following treatment, wash clothing and bedding in hot water and dry on a hot drying cycle for 20 minutes.
For clothing, stuffed animals, comforters, etc., that cannot be washed, either dry-clean them or store them in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks.
Wash combs and brushes with soap and hot water or soak in rubbing alcohol for 1 hour.
Vacuum the floor and upholstered furniture.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL

Students who have been treated for head lice may return to school if no live lice are identified upon re-inspection.
Students who have head lice will be re-inspected 14 days after treatment.
Students must be inspected by the school nurse and cleared to return before returning to the classroom.

For further information, check online at http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/Health/Pediculosis/default.htm, or contact our parent coordinator, Javier Salamanca at 212-678-2854. A special thanks goes to two of our parents, Janet Field and Sue Graef, for researching and preparing this fact sheet.

If you are uncomfortable treating your child, you can use a service.

Two services in Manhattan are:

Hair Fairies, 1026 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 502, NY 10018, 212-719-5222

and

LICENDERS
336 W. 37th St. suite 1160
New York, NY 10018
212-759-5200 or 1-888- LICENDERS

If there are any problems with this website, please contact us at web@ps163pta.org

Lice

The Department of Education and the School Safety Committee want all parents to be informed about head lice. We have prepared the fact sheet below to educate our community regarding this condition, and to help minimize its spread.

WHAT ARE HEAD LICE?

Head lice are small grayish-white to brownish-tan insects that can live on the scalp. Adult lice are the size of sesame seeds (such as those found on burger buns).

Head lice are not dangerous and do not transmit disease, but they are contagious. If your child has head lice, please notify the school right away. You also should notify anyone whose child has come in close contact with yours.

Head lice are spread through close, head-to-head contact with someone who has them or, occasionally, by sharing objects such as hats, scarves, combs, and brushes.

Head lice can't fly, hop, or jump but can crawl quickly from person to person.

Having head lice is not a sign of poor hygiene.

Head lice are primarily experienced by children 3-12 years of age and by their families.

WHAT ARE NITS?

Nits are eggs of head lice. They are yellowish-white and about the size of a knot in thread.

Nits stick on to the hair shaft. Live eggs, which will hatch into lice, are usually found within ¼ inch of the scalp.

Dead nits typically are found more than ¼ inch from the scalp.

Nits hatch in 7-10 days and develop into an adult in another 7-10 days. The adult then can then lay more eggs. It is important to remove all live nits to break this cycle.

PREVENTION

If your children have long hair, tie it back in a braid or bun.

Teach your children to avoid head-to-head contact and not to share things that have been on or near another child's head.

Have your children store their hats and scarves in their backpacks.

Anyone who has had close contact with a person with lice should be checked for lice every 2-3 days.

Families should check their children’s heads periodically.

SYMPTOMS

The main symptom of head lice is an itchy scalp that results from the bites of the lice. It may take 2 to 3 weeks before the child experiences itching.

There may be a tickling feeling in the hair or sores on the scalp from scratching.

Nits close to the scalp indicate a likely infestation but may be confused with dandruff, dirt, etc. Licemay also be hard to spot because they move quickly.

Lice and nits are easiest to spot at the neckline and behind the ears.

If you are not sure whether your child has lice, consult a health care provider or a specialist in lice removal.

TREATMENTS

The main treatments for head lice are using a head lice shampoo (check with your pharmacist for recommendations) and then patiently and diligently removing nits with a small-toothed metal comb.

After treatment, check hair and comb with a nit comb to remove nits and lice every 2-3 days. Continue to check for 2-3 weeks.

If you are uncomfortable treating your child, you can use a service. The names of such services are available on the PS 163 PTA website (www.ps163pta.org) or can be found on the PTA bulletin board.

These services may be covered by health insurance.

Consult your healthcare provider if you are having trouble getting rid of lice.

Check everyone in the household for lice and nits every 2-3 days. Treat only if crawling lice or nits within ¼ inch of the scalp are found.

ABOUT MEDICATED SHAMPOOS

When using a head-lice shampoo, be sure to follow the instructions to get rid of all the lice. Repeat in 7-10 days to kill any newly hatched lice.

These shampoos are toxic, and it is thought that some lice have developed resistance to them. Do not use them unless you are sure your child has lice.

Should you wish to consider an alternative treatment, consult with your health care provider. You must follow up treatment by fastidiously checking for lice and nits. Repeat every 2-3 days.

HOW TO LOOK FOR NITS AND LICE

Wash hair and towel dry. You may want to apply conditioner.

Make sure there is good light, such as daylight or a bright lamp.

First comb the hair with an ordinary comb.

Then use a metal nit comb (available at pharmacies), starting at the top of the head (with teeth touching the scalp) and then carefully combing towards the ends of the hair.

Look carefully at the teeth of the comb in good light, or run the comb over a white towel and look on the towel for lice or nits.

Work around the head, combing slowly and methodically from top, sides, and up from the neck.

TREATING YOUR HOME

Lice survive only 24-48 hours if they fall off a person, so you don't have to spend a lot of time or money on housecleaning activities.

To prevent re-infection following treatment, wash clothing and bedding in hot water and dry on a hot drying cycle for 20 minutes.

For clothing, stuffed animals, comforters, etc., that cannot be washed, either dry-clean them or store them in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks.

Wash combs and brushes with soap and hot water or soak in rubbing alcohol for 1 hour. Vacuum the floor and upholstered furniture.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL

Students who have been treated for head lice may return to school if no live lice are identified upon re-inspection.

Students who have head lice will be re-inspected 14 days after treatment.

Students must be inspected by the school nurse and cleared to return before returning to the classroom.

For further information, check online at http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/Health/Pediculosis/default.htm, or contact our parent coordinator, Javier Salamanca at 212-678-2854. A special thanks goes to two of our parents, Janet Field and Sue Graef, for researching and preparing this fact sheet.

If you are uncomfortable treating your child, you can use a service.

Two services in Manhattan are:

Hair Fairies, 1026 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 502, NY 10018, 212-719-5222

and

LICENDERS 336 W. 37th St. suite 1160 New York, NY 10018 212-759-5200 or 1-888- LICENDERS

If there are any problems with this website, please contact us at web@ps163pta.org

Should you wish to consider an alternative treatment, consult with your health care provider.
You must follow up treatment by fastidiously checking for lice and nits. Repeat every 2-3 days.

Wash combs and brushes with soap and hot water or soak in rubbing alcohol for 1 hour.
Vacuum the floor and upholstered furniture.

LICENDERS
336 W. 37th St. suite 1160
New York, NY 10018
212-759-5200 or 1-888- LICENDERS