Head Lice: Key Prevention, Remedies

Head lice are grey-brown insects about the size of a sesame seed that live on or close to the scalp. They lay eggs that hatch into more lice, and the oval off-white egg cases (nits) remain glued to the bases of hairs. They look like dandruff but can’t be brushed off. Because head lice are easily passed on by close contact they can affect anyone, but are more common in children. You may see your child scratching his or her head, although itching may not develop until sometime after infection.

Make an appointment to see your doctor if you aren’t sure whether you have lice, or if you have lice but don’t know which treatment to use.

PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Detection combing It is difficult to find lice by just looking in the hair, so use the following process. It takes about 15-30 minutes.

* Shampoo and rinse your hair and apply a generous amount of conditioner. Comb with an ordinary comb.

* Insert a detection comb at the hair roots, with the teeth flat against the scalp. Draw it up to the hair tips.

* Check the comb after each stroke, and remove any lice by wiping it on a tissue.

* Make sure you cover the entire head, combing over a white towel so you can see any lice that fall.

* If you find lice, rinse your hair, let it dry, and apply a head lice lotion.

Alternatively, rinse and repeat combing. Repeat 3 more times at 4 day intervals. If you find live lice in a subsequent session, repeat combing 3 more times, at 4 day intervals, until none are seen.

Combing method
Work backwards and forwards and from side to side over the whole head.

DRUG REMEDIES
Head lice lotions (see p 188) contain an insecticide ( malathion, permethrin, or phenothrin) or dimeticone. Alcohol-based lotions are not advised for people with asthma or eczema or for young children, Normally, you rub the lotion into the hair and scalp and leave it on overnight. You then shampoo your hair and comb out the dead lice. Reapply the lotion after 7 days.

You can treat head lice yourself, but you only need to do so if you find live lice in the hair.

* To detect head lice, use detection combing (see PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE, right). If you find lice, check family members and tell anyone who has had close contact with you or your child in the previous 4-6 weeks so they can be treated if necessary.

* Apply a head lice lotion to kill the lice (see DRUG REMEDIES, right). Shampoos are also available, but are less effective than lotions.

* If you are treating a baby under 6 months old, you should not use head lice lotions, Instead, you can use repeated detection combing (see PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE, right), which is also an option if you prefer not to use chemical treatments.

* Head lice die quickly once they leave the scalp but, as a precaution, wash brushes, combs, towels, and pillowcases, and don’t share hats, scarves, brushes, and combs with anyone else.

Arrange to see your doctor if :

* You find live lice 2 or 3 days after the second application of a head lice lotion or after combing regularly for 2 weeks