Bugged by lice.

Hair, beware! You're sitting at your desk, when suddenly your head feels itchy. It's under attack from tiny insects that cause big trouble---head lice!

Each year, 6 million to 12 million Americans get lice. In fact, that is the number-one reason that kids miss school. Now the National Parent Teacher Association is fighting back against the little pests. The group has started a national program called Keeping Our Kids Lice Free.

Lice can spread very quickly from one person to another. The bugs can't jump or fly, but they can crawl. Follow these tips from health experts to keep lice from bugging you:

* Avoid touching your head to someone else's head.

* Don't share personal items such as hats, combs, and headphones.

* Use your own sleeping bag and pillow on sleepovers. Normally, sharing with your friends is nice---but not if you are sharing lice!

The National Parent Teacher Association has started a program to keep students lice-free.

Before You Read

Ask: What are lice? How do you think kids get lice?

Vocabulary lice: tiny insects that live on the head and feed on blood

Background

* People who get lice aren't dirty. Anyone can become infested with lice, regardless of how often that person showers or bathes.

* Nits (lice eggs) look like yellow dots and are about the size of a thread knot.

* The nits hatch into nymphs (baby lice). They must feed on blood to survive. After about seven days, nymphs become adult lice and can live up to 30 days. Female adults lay more eggs, and the cycle continues.

Extend the Lesson

Have students make posters to hang throughout the school to teach others how to stay lice-free.

Web Resource

For more about lice, visit www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/lice.html.