A local day care has strict rules to help prevent lice.

Kinder Korner Assistant Director Lavonne Miller works at the SRSS location and says under their lice and bed bug policy it states, if a parent wants to bring a blanket or stuffed toy for their child to have during the day, it must remain at the centre. Miller notes staff then gather all stuffed toys, blankets, and dress up clothes and wash them every week. She adds they have an average of 65 to 70 children in the SRSS location per day and since opening in 2014 does not remember a single case of lice.

"I opened up the middle school location in 2012 and when I was there from 2012 to 2014 I can only recall one series of time when we had one or two cases of lice within those two years," says Miller.

Bev Unger is a regional manager with Southern Health Santé Sud and says lice do not differentiate between people and can lay their eggs on any scalp, clean or dirty.

"The live bug could get onto a comb or hair brush or hair scrunchie and if that's shared with someone else then the bug travels along it and gets off on their next stop and potentially lays eggs there."

Unger notes one of the main signs of lice is when a child complains of a persistent itchy scalp.

"I would suggest checking in with a local pharmacy. There are a number of products out there so some products kill the live bug, some products kill the live bug as well as the eggs and that would be an important feature."

She says it's important to kill the eggs as well, otherwise they will hatch and continue the problem. Miller adds the eggs can also be removed by using a special nit-removal hair comb.

"Anything that has touched the head should be thoroughly cleaned," says Miller. "Heat is something that the bugs should not live through, so, putting items that maybe can't be washed in hot water into the dryer for 15 to 20 minutes would be prudent. Then vacuuming carpets and mattresses."

Miller notes, over the years, she has noticed using the same lice shampoo on multiple cases of lice for one individual can cause it to become ineffective and switching brands during each outbreak is beneficial."