Back To School: Lice Concerns

Many children are heading back to school – a reminder to be on the lookout for lice. One clinic says they’ve already seen several cases in the past month.

The hatched eggs are so small, you often need a magnifying glass to spot them- but the symptoms are hard to miss.

“We’d be sitting there watching her as she’s sleeping, scratching non-stop and we felt just horrible for her,” said Michelle M.

Michelle’s 5-year-old daughter caught a case of lice last school year.

“The main places she had it was behind her ears,” said Michelle.

Lice lives off of human blood and can only spread through direct contact when items like coats and hats are shared.

“I’ve been getting client after client, treating many many families and people just in these last couple months,” said Holly Miller, lice doctor technician.

Lice are treatable but it can take days or even weeks to get rid of them. Several pharmacies provide over-the-counter products like shampoos and combs to treat it.

Miller recommends using kits like lice-free spray and fine-tooth combs, because if it isn’t treated right away, it can spread quickly.

“They can multiple by the hundreds. One louse can produce up to 10 more eggs on their own,” said Miller.

“With school starting up, I would definitely start checking more often,” said Michelle.

Not everyone shows an itchy scalp right away, so if you notice anything different about your child’s hair – it’s a good idea to get them checked.