It's back-to-school season across the province, and with the new threads, classes, friends and possibilities come new opportunities for the spread of germs, parasites and little wingless insects that make their home in hair.
You guessed it, that last one was in reference to head lice, and the nasty nits can infest your child's scalp and move quickly onto the heads of friends and family members.
This is particularly the case around this time of year, when lots of children are in close proximity, making it easy for the lice to spread.
"This is the time of year when it crops up," said Maureen Myers, a local daycare director.
"It spreads quickly ... really itchy head."
That itch comes from a tiny bug called a louse, which digs deep down into the affected scalp and feeds of the host's blood.
And it's not a question of personal hygiene. It's very easy for lice to travel from head to head, with our without a morning shampoo.
But it's a medicated shampoo you'll need if the seeds, or eggs as it were, have been planted. A formula including either Pyrethrin or Permethrin is needed to kill the lice, and products containing both can be purchased over the counter at most drug stores.
If the situation is more severe or persists, a doctor can prescribe something stronger.
Here are some links to help you understand lice in case it rears its ugly on your kid's head.
Mayo Clinic
Toronto Public Health
HeadLice.org
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