The no-nit policies of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Association of School nurses are based on fear and misinformation, thus leaving school children being sent home because of infestations. Hence, it is very important especially for parents to educate themselves of common misconceptions about lice.
Although these parasitic, wingless insects that live in human hairs are very baffling to deal with, they are not as dangerous as most people think. Lice are, in fact, very common to children. These seemingly naked nits are actually lice eggs that lay close to the shaft to keep them warm. After hatching, they become nymphs then adult lice. These parasites are bloodsuckers leaving people scratching and itching when bitten.
To avoid misconceptions and always jumping into conclusions, parents should first confirm the diagnosis of teachers, nurses, and physicians about lice infestation before beginning treatment regimen; this is encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is to avoid misdiagnosis, because according to a research from Harvard University, not all samples sent by these professionals are evidence of infestations. Sometimes, these are just dandruffs, scabs, droplets, or other insects. Furthermore, it claimed that parents are better than physicians as lice detectors.
Aside from visual inspection, use of louse comb is one of the effective ways. A study found that this is better than looking closer or scouting within the child's hair. Before combing, applying shampoo and conditioner first can help lice and nymph let loose and slide off hair strands easily.
Another common misconception is lice do not jump or fly, they only crawl. This means that it entails a prolonged head-to-head contact before another person gets infested too. Also, they cannot survive days without blood meals. A study revealed that only around 4 percent from lice-infested volunteers were lice obtained from their pillowcases.
There are over-the-counter medicine shampoos available in the drug store already. Most actually contains harmful pesticide formulas that are as much as possible not applicable to humans. For example, Nix, a commonly used medication contains 1 percent permethrin, a pesticide. Study has shown this can cause difficulty in breathing and rashes. Hence, it is always important to determine whether or not these are nits and lice to avoid misdiagnosis and improper use of these potent medications.
