Child care providers cringe when they get the phone call that one of the children in their class has head lice, a highly contagious and annoying infestation. Classmates and staff must be examined, preferably by a nurse, to see if the lice have spread to others.

Lice are tiny brown and gray parasites that can cause itching and scratching, usually on the scalp neck and behind the ears. While small, lice and their tiny eggs, called nits, can be seen on the hair. It is more common to see nits in a child's hair than it is to see live lice crawling on the scalp.
Infestation spreads through the use of personal items, such as combs, brushes and hats, and among those in close contact. Lice can live temporarily in clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats that have come in contact with an infested person. Six to 12 million people are infested with lice each year.
Contrary to common belief, lice infestation is not a sign of uncleanliness. Once infected, an individual must be treated, usually with a medicated shampoo. It is also important to re-check a child's scalp after treatment to make sure all the nits are gone. Combing the hair with a fine- tooth comb makes the examination easier.

Child care providers must examine all children if there is a lice outbreak in the center. Additionally, classrooms must be thoroughly cleaned and certain items, especially clothes used in dramatic play, must be washed.
"Lice infestation is an annoyance, more than anything else, " said Shirley Chance, Abbott health nurse for CCCC. "The most important thing to remember is to examine a child to ensure she is free of all nits or lice before allowing the child to return to the classroom."