The new school year means an increased chance of having your kids come home with lice or other bugs. Learn more about how to deal with these pests and keep your kids healthy.
One of the unfortunate parts of having your kids back in school is that they can catch bugs from others. While head lice are among the most common bugs, bed bugs and fleas can also be a problem. Use these back-to-school health tips to eliminate these pests.
Head Lice
If you notice that your kids have a case of head lice, you will need to use an over-the-counter or prescription treatment to eliminate the lice and their eggs. Follow the instructions for the product to ensure that you are using it properly. In most cases, this will involve:
- Applying the medicine
- Leaving it on for a certain period of time
- Using a fine-toothed nit comb to remove lice
You might need to do this several times and keep using the comb to check for lice in order to make sure that product is working and all lice are gone. You should also wash your kids’ clothing and bed linens in hot water and vacuum your furniture and carpets to get rid of any lice that might be around.
Bed Bugs
Bed bug bites are small bites that typically become red and itchy. You might find these bites on any exposed parts of your kids’ skin. Bites from bed bugs do not usually require treatment unless your kids have a severe reaction to them.
However, it is crucial to take steps to eliminate these pests from your home to prevent additional bites and stop these bugs from spreading.
Elimination involves washing bed linens, clothes and curtains in hot water and use the hottest dryer setting afterwards. Other items, such as shoes, should go in the dryer on a high setting for roughly 30 minutes. You will also need to thoroughly vacuum your home and cover mattresses with a bed bug cover to keep these pests at bay.
Fleas
Flea bites are small like bed bug bites, but they usually have a reddish spot in the center. In some cases, blisters form around the bites. You will normally find flea bites around the ankles and feet, although they can show up on the arms too.
Since these bites can be itchy, it is important to use these steps to stop your kids from scratching to prevent infection:
- Use aloe vera/calamine lotion or apply cold compresses to the affected areas to soothe itching.
- Seek medical care if any bites show signs of infection, such as puss, or if your kids are running a fever.
- Vacuum your home to get rid of fleas and their eggs.
If your kids are still getting flea bites, you might need to use professional flea control services to completely eliminate them.
In some cases, any of these bugs can become very resistant & therefore difficult to eradicate so seeing a physician for prescription medication may be needed. If you need head lice treatment or other health items, contact Smith-Caldwell Drug Store in Benton, AR, by calling 501-392-5470.