If you have a child in school between the ages of 3 and 12 at some point you may get that dreaded letter from the principal saying that there has been an outbreak of head lice. Head lice infestations are found world wide. Head lice are extremely contagious, easily passed to someone else and have nothing to do with poor hygiene.

Head lice are caught when you child has contact with someone already infested or if they share a hair brush or hat or pillow. Even if you talk to your children and give them precautions to use an outbreak can occur.

At the same time you treat your infected child you'll want to check other family members and treat anyone else in the family who may be infested. It may take a total of two to three weeks before you see all the head lice are gone.

Head lice will not go away without treatment. Luckily the treatment is an easy to find over-the-counter shampoo that contains pyrethrin. Treatment will need all your attention and takes some time to do properly. You'll want to follow all instructions on the shampoo very carefully so that you can get the lice with one complete treatment session. Pay careful attention to the thickness and length of hair of the person you're treating to make sure that you use enough shampoo. Due to the fact that pyrethrin shampoos don't penetrate eggs on the scalp you will most likely find a re-infestation of freshly hatched eggs within seven to ten days after the first treatment. A second application of pyrethrin shampoo generally kills any head lice that are left.

Clothing and bedding will need to be washed on a daily basis during treatment. The hotter the water the better. Do not share pillows during this time. Vacuum any furniture the infected person/persons may lay or sit down and thoroughly vacuum your home. Head lice do not love long off of the head so you won't need to use any chemical treatments in your home.

Remind your children to never share brushes or combs with others. To not wear hats worn by others. Don't share scarves.Don't share towels.