It’s one of the nightmares that every parent frets about: your child getting lice. Though lice aren’t as common as many people think they are, there are still millions of kids that become infected every year. According to the CDC, there are anywhere from 6 million to 12 million kids ages 3 to 11 who get lice every year. And once kids get lice, they tend to pass them on to others — not only because more than half of kids with lice aren’t even aware of it, but also because kids, especially those in school or daycare, are in close quarters and tend to share items. A child who gets lice will pass it on to a sibling about 80% of the time. The best defense against lice is prevention, but if that fails, then you need to pick the right treatment for getting rid of lice.
There are many things you can do to try to keep your children lice free, although there is no guarantee they will work. One prevention item is to make sure your children don’t share combs or brushes, even among siblings. It’s a good idea to disinfect your combs and brushes every few days by soaking them in very hot water for five to 10 minutes.
Make sure your child does not share items, and if he or she takes things such as a hat to school, wash it in hot water after one use. Be vigilant as well by checking your child’s head and hair every few days for lice.
Even with the best prevention strategy, your child still may wind up with lice, and that’s when you have to start thinking about the best treatment for getting rid of lice. There are a number of treatments for lice, and it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor to see what he or she recommends. Though there are a number of lice removal products on the market, they often use insecticides that are quite harsh on your child’s skin and hair. If your child can’t tolerate those treatments or you don’t like the idea of putting insecticide on your child’s scalp, you can try a natural treatment for lice. Tea tree oil and lavender are chemical free lice removal treatments that have been proven to work. A study showed they worked nearly 100% of the time vs. only about a 25% success rate for conventional treatments.
Getting rid of lice is not easy or fun, but it is necessary. If you find lice on your child, you should get him or her to a doctor as soon as possible and start a treatment regimen right away.