Stop the Itch!
by Emma
Even though there are lice at school, you don’t have to get it. This year over ten percent of the school suffered from lice but Mount Madonna doesn’t stand alone. MMS Lower School Head Supriya McDonald states, “This year we heard about lots of cases of head lice in other schools as well.”
It is important to know about the life cycle of lice so that you can prevent them. Lice are human parasites, which means that they need human blood to survive. Lice start out as eggs (nits) attached with a cement-like substance, about a fourth of an inch from the scalp. After 7-10 days they hatch and become nymphs. Finally they become a full adult louse about the size of a grain of rice.
Here are some handy tips to help you prevent lice:
- Make sure to keep your hair up so it is harder for the lice to spread.
- Have your parents check your head every night.
- If they find any lice, make sure to treat it and stay away from other people.
- Don’t share any personal belongings hats, coats, hair accessories etc.
Even if you don’t have lice, you have to be careful. Stay away from upholstered furniture like chairs and couches. You should roll up carpets and bag up stuffed animals.
“Even though lice are really gross no one has ever gotten sick from them.” says pediatrician Dr. Toby Lustig. “Lice make you feel gross because you feel dirty or you think that the people who have it are dirty,” he concludes. It’s not true that people with lice are dirty; anyone can get it.