Back-to-school signs are everywhere: the return of school
buses,
the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and the misery of head
lice.

"More than 12 million people, mostly children, parents
and school personnel, get head lice each year," said Paul
Guillebeau, Integrated Pest Management coordinator for the
University
of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences.

"Head lice are common among all classes of people,
Guillebeau
said. "They know no socioeconomic or ethnic
boundaries."

As part of his efforts to reduce unnecessary use of
pesticides,
Guillebeau and colleague Gretchen Van De Mark have released
updated
information on how to treat head lice.

The two publications, "A Parent’s Guide to the ‘Nitty
Gritty’ About Head Lice" and "A School’s Guide to the
‘Nitty Gritty’ About Head Lice," are being distributed to
Georgia school systems. They’re available on the web at http://entom
ology.ent.uga.edu/online_pubs.htm.

"Many parents panic when they discover their child has
head lice and misuse pesticides or resort to unapproved
treatments
like kerosene," Guillebeau said.

"Head lice are not an emergency," he said.
"They
don’t pose any health risks. But misusing pesticides or spraying
pesticides unnecessarily does put your child and your family at
risk."

Head lice are simply inconveniences to be dealt with
compassionately
and calmly, Guillebeau said.

Knowing a little head lice biology is the key to convincing
parents not to overreact and spray pesticides unneccessarily.

Head lice can’t live off a human host for more than 24 hours.
They can’t reproduce in carpets, bedding or other home
furnishings.
And they can’t live on pets or stuffed toys.

"Pesticide
sprays do little or nothing to control lice," Guillebeau
said, "but they do expose your family to pesticides
unnecessarily.
Never treat your home, car, furniture, beds, pillows or clothing
with pesticides in an attempt to control head lice."

To kill head lice on bedding and clothes, wash and dry them
as you would ordinarily. To kill head lice on brushes, combs and
hair accessories, wash them with hot, soapy water. For peace of
mind, place stuffed animals that can’t be washed in a sealed
plastic
bag for three to four days.

Guillebeau says he cringes when he hears stories of school
personnel spraying pesticides in classrooms and on buses to
control
head lice.

"If your child’s school does this, ask them to stop
immediately,"
Guillebeau said. "These applications don’t help control head
lice populations. They just expose the children and staff to
needless
pesticide risks."

The University of Georgia, National Pest Control Association,
National Pediculosis Association and the Georgia Pest Control
Association all support this recommendation for schools.

Head lice are transmitted by direct head-to-head contact with
an infested person or by sharing hats, scarves, headphones, combs
and other hair accessories. They can’t hop, jump or fly. But they
can crawl fast.

"Teachers and other school personnel should discourage
children from sharing these items," Guillebeau said.
"And
each child’s hat and coat should be stored separately."

Guillebeau said if school bus drivers are concerned over head
lice, they can wipe the bus seats with a damp cloth. Teachers
and school custodians can also wipe smooth surfaces with a damp
cloth and vacuum furniture and carpets if they’re concerned about
head lice.

To treat your child for head lice, just follow Guillebeau’s
ten
tips.