Itchy Times in North Dakota: Head Lice Activity Increasing
We all have probably gotten lice at some point in our lives. Usually, this is something you only have to deal with as kids, but for many North Dakota parents, the struggle is real every year.
According to the CDC, there are approximately 6 - 12 million infestations in the United States each year.
Wait Do I Have Lice?
I'm not a parent, but I've been around children quite a bit over the past few weeks, and I noticed my head has been extremely itchy. I just chalked it up to the changing weather and having dry skin. Never did I consider that I could have dun dun dun... LICE.
One of my friends made the joke, and I went into full panic mode. After forcing my friends to check my head, I got curious: When are these little annoying bugs most active?
Active In North Dakota
I looked it up, and according to NixLice.com, lice are most active during the fall and winter months. So, North Dakota parents, be on alert—this is when we can expect to see an increase in cases.
These little critters are on the move and now is the most likely time for them to creep into your home.
Yes, it is time to have that talk with your kids about sharing clothes, and hairbrushes. You also want to make sure you're washing your bedding regularly.
Luckily, I have not found any traces of lice in my hair, but the fear remains.
If you have the unfortunate luck of having gotten lice, you will have to resist the urge to burn your whole house down. Once you do that, it's time to get cleaning. Here's a list of things to do to get rid of them.
- Wash bedding, clothes, stuffed animals, and furniture to the best of your abilities. You will want to wash them on high heat.
- Vacuum. This step is often skipped or forgotten, but if you have carpet, you will definitely want to add it to your to-do list.
- Wash Combs & Brushes. You should wash anything you put in your hair with hot, soapy water or soak it in rubbing alcohol.
- Treat the Scalp. Obviously, you will want to buy a lice treatment kit and comb the infected person's hair several times.
Good luck!
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