For such a slow-moving creature, lice can spread incredibly quick.
It's happening right now in schools here in Mid-Michigan.
Some parents have recently received letters from school letting them know lice have shown up in the classroom.
Bath Elementary is just one of the local schools sending letters home informing parents of the parasite. They're being reminded not to let their kids share brushes or hats and to keep them home if they find lice or eggs in their hair.
"We see a lot of lice this time of year. Does pass easily and quickly, so we try to prevent it as much as possible so we do send home the notices every time a child gets lice," said Kim Kracko, Administrative Staff at Bath Elementary.
Unfortunately, that happens a lot in the winter in Michigan. Kids end up hanging hats and coats right next to each other, making it easy for lice to spread.
Lice can survive for two days without a host, plenty of time to find a new one in a crowded classroom. Schools are taking precautions to help prevent that.
"They all have to have their own hats and they have to keep them in their lockers so they are not even touching each other," said Kracko.
Sooner or later, lice are going to spread in school no matter how careful the students and staff are. Over-the-counter treatments usually get lice out of the hair and washing all your clothes and bedding can keep them from coming back, but there are resistant strains of lice that require medical treatment.
"A lot of times people will go and get the over the counter medications, which come in shower, shampoo and lotion, and sometimes you have resistance. There are resistant forms of lice and sometimes you are left to use oral medication," said Dr. Song Yu, Physician at Sparrow Urgent Care.
Which is why schools want kids to stay home until they're lice-free. But they also don't want to stigmatize them for something as common as lice.
"We try to make sure kids don't feel ashamed or upset that they get it because it happens, so if it happens then you treat it and you move on, and you know all is good," said Kracko,
Doctors recommend the entire family get treated for lice if even one person in your household gets them. It's easy to mistake the eggs for dandruff. The difference is the eggs are sticky and tough to remove.
Lice themselves are not harmful, but they can cause itching and people have been known to cause open sores by scratching too much.
Those sores can be infected by bacteria that's found naturally on your skin. Some parents swear by home remedies for lice.
