COLUMBUS As children head back to school this fall, they are likely to share such personal items as clothing, combs, brushes and hats that have come into contact with a person infested with head lice.Lice live among human hairs and draw small amounts of blood from the skin.They lay eggs (nits) cementing them onto hair shafts close to the skin surface where the temperature is perfect for incubation. Lice eggs hatch within one to two weeks after they are laid. The hatched lice have to feed on blood to stay alive. They have tiny claws on their legs that are adapted for feeding and clinging to hair or clothing. Their bites may cause inflammation and itching and may become infected. Lice can live in clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes and hats that have come into contact with an infested person. Children and teens are most prone to catching lice because they often are in close physical contact with other infected children."Use an over-the-counter medication to kill the lice and plan on retreating within seven to 10 days," said Dr. Colette Willins of Community Family Medicine in Westlake, Ohio. "After the initial treatment, use a fine comb to remove the nits so that more head lice won't hatch; and check the hair every day for two to three weeks."Although a head lice infection is not a sign of uncleanliness, lice can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with a person who has lice; by not sharing combs, brushes, hats, scarves, ribbons or other personal items; examining and treating members of your household who have had close contact with a person infected with lice; and keeping your child home from school or daycare until the morning after treatment for lice and removal of the nits."To prevent reinfestation, avoid head-to-head contact; do not share clothing, combs or towels; and do not lie on furniture, carpet or pillows that were recently in contact with an infested person," said Dr. Willins. Medicated shampoos, creams and lotions can end a lice infestation right away, but it may take about five days for the itching to stop. You need to remove the nits with a fine comb so that new lice will not hatch. An over-the-counter, lice-egg-removal product may make this easier by breaking the cement bond that the eggs have on the hair. Your child's family physician may have you repeat treatment in seven to 10 days.The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians is a statewide professional association with more than 4,400 members, including practicing physicians, family medicine residents and medical students. The scope of family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes and every disease entity. Family physicians provide comprehensive, continuing care to all members of the family.Fact Sheet: Treat the infested person Use an over-the-counter or prescription medication. Before applying treatment, remove all clothing. Apply lice medicine according to label instructions. If your child has extra long hair, you may need to use a second bottle. WARNING: Do not use a cream rinse or combination shampoo/conditioner before using lice medicine. Do not rewash hair for one to two days after treatment. Have the infested person put on clean clothing after treatment. If after eight to 12 hours of treatment, no dead lice are found and lice seem as active as before, the medicine may not be working; call your family doctor. Nit (head lice eggs) combs, often found in lice medicine packages, should be used to comb nits and lice from the hair shaft. Many flea combs made for cats and dogs are also effective. A lice-egg-removal product can make this easier by breaking the cement bond the nits have on the hair.Treat the household To kill lice and nits, machine wash all washable clothing and bed linensthat the infested person touched during the two days before treatment. Use the hot water (130o F) cycle. Dry laundry using high heat for at least 20 minutes Dry-clean any clothing that is not washable (coats, hats, scarves, etc.) or store all clothing, stuffed animals, comforters, etc., that cannot be washed or dry cleaned into a sealed plastic bag for two weeks. Soak combs and brushes for one hour in rubbing alcohol or Lysol or wash with soap and hot water (130o F). Vacuum the floor and furniture. Do not use fumigant sprays: they can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.Source: familydoctor.org Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).