The Holiday Survival Guide When Lice Come to Visit.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8, 2003

The holiday season can be frantic. The holiday season with head lice can be horrific. The age old problem of head lice doesn't take a break to celebrate the holidays; as a matter of fact it is quite the opposite. So if you find yourself searching for the perfect gift while you search for the perfect way to rid your family of head lice, take heart, over four million kids could contract head lice this year based on the national statistics, 400,000 in Los Angeles County alone.

While over 400,000 kids in Los Angeles could contract head lice, the ones that matter most are yours. When a family member is found to have head lice, there is a myriad of information to sift through; below are some myths, misconceptions and tips to help a family survive through this stressful time.

Myth: "Head lice are found most often on people with dirty hair".

Fact: When hair is clean, it does not stick to the scalp and therefore it is easier for the lice to crawl around the scalp and from one person's head to another.

Myth: "My daughter caught head lice from the family dog".

Fact: Head lice can only be transmitted from hair to hair contact with humans. The family pet cannot contract head lice because lice feed only on human blood. Human head lice cannot live on pets and animal lice cannot live on humans.

Myth: "Bag all of the children's toys for three weeks once lice are found".

Fact: Lice can live only for 24 hours after leaving the scalp. Lice cannot jump or fly. They crawl from hair shaft to hair shaft, not from toy to child.

Myth: "My child's head lice are a nuisance, but they don't carry any harmful diseases".

Fact: The potential for disease transmission via head louse should never be underestimated.

Myth: "My child had lice and we got rid of it. In less than a week it came back".

Fact: Unfortunately, it is likely that the lice were not completely eliminated. A female louse will lay up to 3-5 eggs per day. One week later the eggs hatch and then another 7-10 days later the mature louse will lay new eggs.

Myth: "My son's cousin has head lice and therefore we will not be going to visit them for the holidays".

Fact: Once a treatment program has begun, there is no reason to forgo holiday visits with friends and family. Just take common sense precautions and make sure that there is no head-to-head contact with the infested person.

There are many treatment options on the market today, some high tech and some not so high tech. They include shampoos, combs, and gels, even shaving a child's head. Some "remedies" such as kerosene are extremely dangerous and should never be used. When finding a treatment method, always check with your Doctor or Pediatrician.

Whatever treatment you use, you will need to search through the child's hair thoroughly. Manually finding the eggs (nits) and bugs is the only sure fire way to eliminate the pesky parasites. Depending on the length of hair, this can take a few minutes or a few hours. So to survive the holiday season when head lice come to visit, relax, take it all in stride, don't panic, be methodical, and who knows, you may learn something new about your child during those hours of combing and nit-picking.

About Hair Fairies(TM)

Hair Fairies - The Head Lice Helpers is the only salon in Los Angeles dedicated to the safe and effective removal of head lice in a kid friendly environment. In business since 1999, Hair Fairies' mission is to (1) remove head lice in a stress-free, fun setting and (2) educate the public on the facts and myths of head lice. Hair Fairies- The Head Lice Helpers has been recommended by pediatricians since 1999. Visit us on the web at www.hairfairies.com.