Search: Provider Services Index (Program Services) > The Nurse Is In Lice Aren't Nice! Now that school has started, another unavoidable ritual has started up - the fight against head lice. Much dreaded and tough to kill, lice are easily spread from head to head and can thrive in a school or child care environment. Lice are small insects that live on humans and survive by feeding on blood. Head Lice are usually found in hair, most often on the nape of the neck and behind the ears. Head lice infestation is common in preschool and elementary school–age children. Adults can also be affected, especially if they live in a household with children. Lice are very contagious and are usually spread by close personal contact and shared personal items (combs, brushes, hats, helmets, clothing, or earphones), or shared bedding. Itching is the most common symptom of lice infestation, although some children may not show any symptoms in the early stages. The lice bite to feed on blood, and many people develop an allergic reaction to the lice's saliva, which in turn leads to itching. Itching usually begins a week or more after lice infest the person. The eggs, or nits, of head lice can be seen on shafts of hair, although you may need a magnifying glass to see them. Nits are brown before they hatch and white to light brown after hatching. They are tightly attached to the hair shaft and do not slide up and down on the hair. Nits of body lice are most often found in the seams of clothing. Many people are embarrassed about having lice. However, lice can infest people from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds. Lice will not go away without treatment. The most common treatment for lice is applying a cream, lotion, or shampoo that contains an ingredient that kills lice. Both nonprescription and prescription products are available. A prescription medication called ivermectin (taken orally) sometimes can be used when topical treatments using two or more approved shampoos or lotions have failed to get rid of lice. If the initial treatment does not kill all of the eggs (nits), a follow-up treatment may be required 7 to 10 days later to kill the newly hatched lice. After treatment, dead nits may remain in a person's hair until they are removed. Usually children may return to school or day care after their first treatment. However, some schools have a "no nits" policy. In this case, the child can only return to school or day care after nits have been removed. "No nits" policies are discouraged by both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses. Removing lice from personal items, clothing, and furniture can help prevent lice from spreading to other household members and can help prevent a person who has been treated for lice from becoming re-infested. To rid hair brushes, combs, barrettes, and other hair ornaments of lice, soak them in hot water [greater than 130 °F (54.44 °C)] for 10 minutes or wash them with a shampoo that is used to treat head lice. Wash clothes, bedding, and cloth toys in hot water [greater than 130 °F(54.44 °C)] in an automatic washing machine or place them in a hot dryer for 30 minutes. Dry-cleaning or storing clothing in a plastic bag for 10 days will also destroy head and pubic lice. Woolen items may be ironed to kill lice and eggs. (Storage of clothing is recommended for body lice, although storage is needed for up to 30 days because body lice can survive that long.) Vacuum carpets, upholstery, and mattresses. You do not need to fumigate the house with insecticide sprays. This will not help treat or control a lice problem and may unnecessarily expose family members to toxic fumes. For more information on Head Lice or other health and safety issues please contact Andi, Child Care Nurse Consultant at 1-800-467-9200, ext. 125. DCFS Licensing Standards For Day Care Centers Section 407.310 Health Requirements for Children (p.75, Item L) When Head Lice is found, children should be excluded from the day care center until the morning after the first treatment. Back to top