Dr. Tonia Cox, CHI Memorial Pediatric Care Associates; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical SocietyQ: It seems like every year there’s a lice outbreak in the schools. How can I keep my children from getting lice?
A: Lice are spread by contact, so teach your children not share items such as brushes and combs, hair clips and accessories, hats, bike helmets, scarves, towels, even earbuds. Clothing, hats and other personal items should be kept out of common areas at schools to avoid contamination. It’s a good idea to keep long hair tied up in a ponytail or bun to keep it from touching someone else’s hair. Take a few minutes each week to check your child’s hair for signs of lice, especially around the ears, nape of the neck and crown of the head. Look for brownish eggs near the scalp. The actual bugs are about the size of a sesame seed and are brownish-grey to caramel in color. They move very quickly so they may be difficult to spot.
– Dr. Tonia Cox, CHI Memorial Pediatric Care Associates; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society
Submit your health-related questions for a medical doctor to lwilson@timesfreepress.com.