Being a common problem among children who are in close contact during elementary school and day care even headlice live not only on the scalp, but can travel to other hair on the head, which include facial and eyebrows. Lice on other body hair is referred to as public lice, or body lice.

Contrary to popular belief, headlice do not have wings thus, they cannot become air born. They crawl from one place to the next. The females lay their eggs called nits. A female can lay up to 100 nits before dying. These nits are attached to hair by a sticky substance, making them extremely hard to remove manually from the hair. It typically takes around 10 days for a nit to mature into an adult after being laid by a female louse.

Once a child's headlice problem is noticed, usually by a teacher or school nurse, the first thing that comes to the mind of most parents is how to get rid of head lice. Any local pharmacy can provide several lice shampoo products. The pharmacist can help you with other products such as lice combs, besides shampoo products. There are also herbal treatments available such as tea tree oil or coconut oil, which some would like to try out.

The living spaces that children live in should also be treated for lice. These locations include their bedroom, living room and play areas. Vacuuming daily is recommended to remove loose lice and nits. Soft items such as clothing, stuffed animals, and bedding should be washed in hot water and dried on the hottest setting.

Prevention of lice is sometimes impossible, but practicing good hygiene is important. Instruct your child not to share hats, helmets, or hooded clothing with other children. Wipe off items like headphones between use. Frequently check your child for any signs of headlice, which can include white spots that do not comb off easily, and watch your child for frequent itching or scratching of the head.

If your child becomes infected, tell their teacher or school nurse. This can help prevent the infection from spreading to children around them. Some schools will require that children stay home until treated and completely free of nits and lice. You will have to verify this with your local school policys.