Head lice can be common among school-age children 08.20.25

August 20, 2025

Head lice can be common among school-age children

MOBILE, Ala. — As children head back to school, excitement builds around new routines, friends, and activities. This close interaction also increases the chance of spreading head lice.

While head lice do not carry disease, they can cause discomfort, disrupt learning, and family routines. By staying informed and prepared, parents, caregivers, and schools can work together to prevent and manage head lice, keeping students focused on learning.

Head lice, or Pediculus humanus capitis, are parasitic insects that feed on human blood. You can find them mostly on your head, but also on your eyebrows and eyelashes. Adult head lice are roughly 2 – 3 mm long (about the size of a sesame seed).

“People with head lice may not have symptoms,” according to Dr. Kevin Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County, “particularly with a first infestation or when an infestation is light. Itching (pruritus) is the most common symptom of head lice infestation.” Other symptoms may include a tickling feeling, irritability, and sleeplessness.

Head lice are most common among preschool and elementary school-age children and their household members. Head lice mainly spread by direct contact with the hair of a person infested with lice. Head lice move by crawling; they cannot hop or fly.

Take these steps to help prevent and control the spread of head lice:
• Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp).
• Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes.
• Do not share combs, brushes, or towels. Disinfect combs and brushes used by an infested person by soaking them in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Machine wash and dry clothing, towels, bed linens, and other items that a person infested with lice wore or used during the two days before treatment.

You can treat head lice with medications (pediculicides) that are either over the counter or by prescription. Some medicines kill lice and eggs; retreatment is usually not required for these. Other medicines kill lice but are not effective at killing eggs, and so retreatment is recommended.

Visit https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/assets/head_lice_flyer.pdf to see a flyer provided by the Alabama Department of Public Health.