One of the most common problems of the school going children is the infestation of head lice in the hair.  Even if you have clean hair, you can still find head lice in your hair. It can grow and thrive in anyone's hair. A study says that around six to twelve million kids are affected by head lice in the US each year. It is not easy to get rid of them, and parents get frustrated trying to remove them. Head lice can embarrass you, and this can be a concern. However, they do not carry any dangerous diseases with them. There are many home treatments that you can use for your kid to treat head lice. However, you should check with your medical practitioner before you try using any one of the lice treatments.

As a parent, you should be informed about how to check, prevent or treat head lice.

• Head Lice: They are very tiny creatures. They are as small as sesame seeds, and they look pale and grey. Head lice can be of different colors. They thrive on blood that they suck from the scalp of the head. The life cycle of head lice continues through three phases. In the first phase, nits or eggs are hatched. The second phase is when these nits become nymphs which become adults within seven days of hatching. Once they become adults, they start multiplying faster and lay up to 10 eggs per day.

• How do they spread?

Head lice are prevalent among pre-elementary and elementary students. Every year, million of people get lice in the United States of America. If there is a head to head contact with a person who already has head lice, then possibilities of getting head lice increases. They generally crawl from one head to the other.

• Symptoms:

You will have itching on those areas where head lice are present. Usually, the itching develops behind the ears and at the back of the neck. If it remains untreated, you will soon start developing an itching feel on the scalp of the head.

• How to get rid of head lice?

Head lice multiply so fast that no one can even think. That is why, it is always advisable to keep checking your kid’s hair so that they if they are spotted, you can treat them for prevention.

1. Make your kid sit in a room that is brightly lit.
2. Part your child’s hair and try to look for nits of lice into one section of the hair at a time.
3. If nits are located, you will find them firmly attached to the hair.
4. The best place to locate them is in the back of the head, behind the ears and at the hairline.
5. Use a rat-tooth comb to look for head lice in each part of the hair.

• Treatment of Head Lice: Before you begin treating the head lice, it is essential to check with the doctor first. Some doctors may suggest head lice medicine for your hair. Ensure to use the drug safely by following the guidelines as printed on the package of the medicine. Do not allow your child to apply for the medication on his own. After you follow the instructions on how to apply for the medicine and apply it safely to your child's head, do not put a plastic bag to cover your child's head with it. Do not leave the child to stay alone after the application of medicine. It is always advised to keep the medicine in a safer place and out of the reach of children. Once you are done with the first treatment and you have removed head lice, remember it is still not a good time to sit and relax as there is a possibility of the reappearance of the lice. Check with the doctor to know how to go ahead with the second and the third treatment.

• Head Lice Medicine: There are different kinds of head lice medicines available in the market. Some of them are Permethrin Lotion, Malathion Lotion; Pyrethrin based products, Spinosad topic suspension, and Benzyl Alcohol lotion. Check with your doctor if you have decided to apply any of these medicines.

• Natural Treatment: You can also treat the head lice naturally. Wet your hair with a mixture of water and vinegar. Put a white towel on the shoulders of your kids and with a comb, search for head lice if any. It is said to be one of the most effective and safest treatment to remove head lice.

Now that you are aware and well informed get rid of head lice today. Get effective lice treatment.