Head lice are a common problem that usually affects school age children. Head lice:
- Are small insects (about the size of a sesame seed) that attach to a person鈥檚 hair and lay their eggs close to the scalp. Anyone and any hair type can get lice.
- Are a nuisance but don鈥檛 cause illness or carry any disease.
- Crawl but don鈥檛 jump, hop or fly. They are spread through close head to head contact.
- Most common symptom is itching, but this occurs weeks after head lice are present.
- Head lice are not a sign of poor hygiene or unclean homes or schools and can affect any person.
Check your child for head lice monthly. If head lice are discovered, use the comb out method and talk with your health care provider about treatment.
Excluding children with head lice from school is not required nor recommended.
Resources
Contact your school nurse for support in managing head lice, and for more information about head lice, including how to check for lice and how to comb out, go to:
(also available in audio and in Spanish)