3 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - Head lice is a year-round problem. That's why Sacramento City School District Nurse Dawn Fox is suggesting parents check their child for signs and symptoms.
Head lice are small insects that live in people's hair and feed on their blood. Having lice has nothing to do with cleanliness. It is passed from person to person by direct contact or through shared objects like combs, towels, pillows, hats and jackets.
School nurse Dawn Fox said that children could have lice for three weeks without any symptoms, like itching. Parents need to check for tiny white eggs that look like sesame seeds called nits. The actual lice look like small grayish tan insects without wings. Nurses advise parents to not spend money on all the chemical products.
"My experience over the years of being a school nurse is that I see that they are not as effective as they used to be. The most important thing you have to do is getting rid of lice is to remove the eggs. If you are going to spend any money on anything you want to get a good lice comb," said Fox.
If your child has lice make sure to check everyone in the household for lice. Wash all clothes, bed linens and towels. For items you cannot wash like helmets and stuffed animals, store in a tightly sealed plastic bag at room temperature for two weeks.
Sacramento City School District spokeswoman Paulette Meeks said Northern California Research in Sacramento is conducting a three-week lice study and offering $100 per child who participates in the study.
To contact the research facility located at 7248 South Land Park Drive, call (916) 484-0500.
KXTV/News10
