Facts of Head Lice.
• Head Lice are very small insects, about the size of a pinhead when fully grown. They live very close to the scalp.
• Head lice are common in young children and their families.
• They do not have anything to do with dirty hair and are picked up by head-to-head contact.
• Head Lice eggs (nits) are brown or white (empty shells) and attached to the hair.
• The majority of head lice are transferred from friends and family and not always at school.
• Regular hair care and detection combing once a week is the best way to stop head lice becoming a problem.
Points to remember.
• If you only find nits (empty eggs) and no live moving lice, then you do not have head lice.
• The best way to stop head lice is to do detection combing regularly with a detection comb.
• Never use insecticides just as prevention, or ‘just in case’.
• Do not use head lice shampoo or foams / mousses – the overnight lotions are more effective.
• Treatments are available from a pharmacist and instructions on their use should be followed according to product.
• Two treatments, 7 days apart is necessary to kill lice effectively. • Treat all people who have head lice at the same time.
Useful Contacts for Advice
• Health Visitor
• General Practitioner
• Practice Nurse
• Pharmacist
• School Nurse
How to detect and treat Head Lice (wet combing)
• Purchase a fine tooth detector comb, which are available from pharmacies and supermarkets.
1. Wash the hair well, and leave wet. Apply lots of conditioner.
2.Ensure you have good lighting – daylight is best.
3.Comb the hair through with an ordinary comb first, then using the detector comb, begin at the top of the head, making sure that the comb touches the scalp, and slowly draw the comb to the ends of the hair.
4.Wipe the teeth of the comb with kitchen roll after every stroke to check for lice.
• Repeat points 1-4 working your way around the head. This should take about 15 minutes.
• Rinse the hair thoroughly after combing has finished.
• Repeat the above procedure on days 1,5,9 and 13 to catch any newly hatched head lice. Check again that everyone’s hair is free of lice on day 17.
Treatment of Head Lice
• Do not start treatment unless a living, moving louse is found.
• Ask a pharmacist for advice if you have tried wet combing for a number of days but your child still has live lice.
• They may recommend using medicated lotions and sprays. These kill head lice and can be bought from pharmacies, supermarkets or online.
• Check the pack to see if the product is ok for you or your child to use, checking for any known allergies.
• Some treatments need to be repeated after a week to kill any newly hatched lice, follow the instructions on the leaflet.
• You can help stop head lice spreading by wet combings regularly to catch them early.
• There is no need for children to stay off school or to wash Laundry on a hot wash.
