Prevent Head Lice: 4 Things All Parents Must Know

Hearing about a lice outbreak from your kid’s school might instill some panic, but don’t bother sending them to the bathtub to scrub for days. In fact, cleaning your kid’s hair won’t actually keep lice off their scalp at all. Researchers have found no correlation between hygiene and getting lice, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Lice can’t fly or jump, so the primary culprit for transmission is hair-on-hair contact. That’s why lice outbreaks are common among preschool and elementary students, since they are more likely to hug and play in close quarters. In this video, learn how to make sure your child doesn’t bring home lice.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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