1.	Tell your children never to share any hair items.
2.	Watch for head scratching.
3.	Check children for lice and nits (attached egg sacks) once a week.
4.	Don’t confuse dandruff or dirt for nits.
5.	Consult your pharmacist or physician for recommendations of lice treatments.
6.	Use all products correctly and with caution.
7.	Remove all visible nits with a half-vinegar, half-warm-water mixture and a fine-tooth comb or fingernails.
8.	Wash bedding and recently worn clothing in hot water and dry it in a dryer. Seal unwashable items in plastic bags for three weeks.
9.	Thoroughly vacuuming and dusting is helpful.
10.	Notify the school nurse if your child is found to have head lice. Notification can alert other parents.

School-aged children sharing hats, hugs and hair bands risk catching head lice. Millions of school-age children face this problem each year, at the cost of more than $100 million.

Head lice live off blood. Their bites itch and can cause irritation and infection. Sometimes lice are hard to see. However, their egg sacks, or nits, can typically be seen attached to the bottom of hairs, especially at the nape of the neck.

Experts say the best prescription is education. Children should be taught never to share hats, combs, brushes or pillows. Care also is indicated around surfaces that have been in contact with other heads, such as movie seats, other people’s carseats and plane seats.

“Families have always been reactive, but it’s more effective to be proactive,” says Dr. Janet Squires, director of the clinical service of general pediatrics at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. “Treatment usually involves using rinses or shampoos. Nits are not killed by these measures and are best removed using a fine-toothed comb and a lot of patience.”