COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES AND CONDITIONS

LICE

Head lice live only on humans and can be spread quickly by using the hat, comb, or brush of a infected person. Anyone can get head lice despite good health and hygiene habits. With treatment, all lice and nits (eggs) will be killed. HOME CARE

• Shampoo with an anti-lice shampoo. This shampoo is available without a
  prescription. Shampoo all family members affected at the same time.
• An alternate therapy instead of using anti-lice shampoo is to apply a thick layer of fat-laden mayonnaise to your child's hair, cover your child's head with a shower cap, and leave on for four (4) hours before washing out thoroughly.
• Remove nits by back combing with a fine tooth comb
• Clean all clothing and hats
• Place all items which cannot be washed in a closed plastic bag for two weeks to suffocate any lice
• Clean the house (lice can't live off a human body for longer than 72 hours)
• Throw away all combs, brushes and hair accessories or boil them for five minutes

CALL THE DOCTOR DURING OFFICE HOURS IF:

• Itching interferes with sleep
• New eggs appear in the hair after 1 week