3)    Avoid selfie close-ups – Kids often put their heads together to capture the perfect moment of bonding via a cell phone selfie. Tell them that it’s not wise to have head-to-head contact in those situations.

4)    Keep hair clean – It’s a good idea to clean hair daily to avoid problems before they happen.

Also to be avoided: sharing a bed or even lying side by side on the grass at nap time. The good news: Pets can’t transmit lice to people, nor can they get lice from you. So there’s no need to shave Fluffy if your child comes home with a lice letter.

How to Treat Lice

The best method for dealing with lice is using a medicated shampoo, lotion or cream rinse designed to kill them where they lay. These can be obtained at a drugstore or through a doctor's prescription. Most medications will kill lice and remaining nits, but it may take a few days for it to work and during that time, your child may still itch and scratch. In severe cases, a doctor may recommend an oral medication that will kill lice in combination with medicated shampoos.

Make sure that any over-the-counter products are age appropriate. Many medicated shampoos are recommended for children age 2 and older. Carefully follow the directions – these are somewhat powerful medications that needs to be administered with care. Moreover, optimal results are achieved when the products are used exactly as directed. Medicated shampoos and other direct applications are usually followed by gently combing nits out with a fine-tooth comb.

It may be necessary to remove any nits by hand in extremely young children. Use a magnifying glass and a bright light to illuminate the child’s scalp, then use a fine-toothed comb on a wet, conditioned scalp every three to four days. A regular comb will do – don’t believe the hype surrounding electric combs or other devices that claim to kill lice. Keep repeating the procedures for several weeks to ensure the child is louse-free.