My teen daughter and her friends all have lice! What can I do?
The spread of lice in older children is on the rise. So how does a teen get head lice? One can trace it back to social media. Teens love taking pictures (“selfies”) with their friends. Squeezing in for a photo permits lice to move from one head to another (heads/hair touching). It is important to know that lice can’t jump, so it the contact that spreads the infestation.
There are many techniques to eradicate lice. It is important to remove the unhatched eggs from the hair shaft. Lice combs can help. To avoid having to treat your children for lice educate them on how lice can be transmitted. Be careful taking photos with friends!
If you have other questions about lice, please look at the AAP website for lice information and if you are having a hard time eradicating the lice, contact your child’s health care provider.
By Sharon Rink, MD, pediatrician, ThedaCare Physicians – Pediatrics Darboy.
