Who knew? Lice can swim or at least they can survive under water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), studies show that head lice can survive under water for several hours but are unlikely to be spread by the water in a swimming pool. Head lice hold tightly onto the child's (or adult's) hair and essentially hold their breath when under water....

When you've had head lice in your home, it is important to properly clean the clothing, bedding and other materials the person with lice has been in contact with. Here is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended laundry procedure: Machine wash and dry clothing, bed linens, and other items that the infested person wore or used during the 2 days befor...

A common misconception about treating people and homes that have had contact with lice is that the only way to get them out of the house is to put everything in the home that is made of any type of fabric in plastic bags for two weeks and have the furniture and carpets cleaned. Not necessary! Here is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about hom...

The best time to talk to school officials about head lice is before there is an outbreak in the school—like at the beginning of school year—when no one is in a state of crisis. Schools have been dealing with head for decades and most have a procedure for dealing with outbreaks. Find out what your school’s procedure is in order to be prepared when and if the time comes to use i...

When your child is sent home from school because he or she has head lice, the first thing you should say is, “You didn’t do anything wrong.” (You should say this to yourself as well!)It’s true. If your child comes home from school and says that another kid in school has lice, you can say the same thing. That child (and its parents) didn’...

Parents don't like to talk about lice. That's a shame, because communication is one of the most effective ways to prevent lice outbreaks. If you know that lice are present in a school, daycare or camp, you can take precautions to protect your own child from getting lice. The best time to talk about lice is before an outbreak happens. Many healthcare providers recommend that parents develop a li...

When I found lice for the sixth time I wanted to scream into a pillow, but first I had to wash it! I asked my pediatrician for his best prevention advice? Remain Childless, he said with a straight face. Thanks a lot Dr. Dry Humor! In 2014 B.L. (Before Lice) during a more innocent era of parenthood, Pink Eye and Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease were my biggest worries. But no more! In 2015 A.L. (After...

Welcome! It's lice to meet you. As a mother of six parasite-prone children, I have tons of lice experience. In fact, I'm just itching to show off my lousy resume and if necessary, I can supply three nitwit personal references too. Letter of recommendation? Yep! I've got a truly hair-raising one written by a nymph, (an immature, teenage louse) herself. And that's just the tip of the liceberg. Bu...

Seriously? A family with six kids gets sent plague #3?! There must be an error somewhere. Dear God, I would like to apply for the (#9) darkness or the (#2) frogs or (#8) locusts instead. Thank you. Already, I've doused my kids™ heads with tea tree and lavender essential oil, Campho-Phenique, Listerine and Cetaphyl cleanser. These treatments are old wives tales (OK, one gal was in her ear...

It's a scenario most parents dread. Your child is sent home from school with a note saying that he or she has head lice. Arrrrrrgh! If you have never been through a lice outbreak before, you're in for a bumpy ride of well-intended advice and misinformation that might just make your teeth rattle. Call the doctor. Don't call the doctor. Go to the drug store they have shampoos that kill lice...