Let's face it - a lot has changed since you went to school. Depending on your age, you never had the kind of computer power young kids do today. And there was no thought of the Internet, streaming video or - for some of us - electronic calculators we could fit in our pocket.
But there's one thing that hasn't changed in all these years and probably never will and it's not a very pleasant problem. It's head lice and it still afflicts kids and worries parents and officials on campuses all across the GTA.
The problem with the pests is that they're hard to spot and equally hard to get rid of.
How do they get on your kids? There are a number of ways, including close contact with others who have them, using a piece of clothing (like a hat), sharing pillows, toys, blankets or equipment that already contains them or coming into contact with furniture where the wee beasties are hiding.
Even using someone else's headphones can be enough to spread them.
Here's what to look for and how to tell if the almost invisible invaders are getting into your kid's hair.
Symptoms
They're not pleasant but these can be telltale signs of a possible outbreak:
A tickling sensation in the scalp
It's an especially weird feeling because it may move around or feel like something is shifting in your head.
Intense itching
Your reaction to the presence of the lice can include an unending itchy feeling and small red bumps on your scalp, neck and shoulders. They're caused by the saliva the parasites inject while they're using your noggin as a feeding ground.
Signs on your clothing and skin
Although they're notorious for attaching themselves to the top of your head, sometimes they fall off and can be seen on clothing, skin, your neck and even behind your ears. But you'll have to look closely to find them. They're about the size of a small fruit seed, although those that are well fed can grow up to an eighth of an inch in size.
Hair shaft
The telltale sign. Lice lay eggs or nits in the shafts of your hair that look the buds of a pussy willow - only much smaller. They also resemble dandruff, but with one big difference. Dandruff comes falling out of your hair. The attached nits don't and getting them out can be a handful.
Treatment
There are several medications that wipe these things out and while none of them are especially pleasant, they do the job.
Find out more about your treatment options here.
In addition, some people swear by homemade remedies. We can't guarantee they work, but if you're interested in trying them,
you'll find them listed here.
Source:
Mayo Clinic
Other resources:
Toronto Public Health
Head Lice.org