Headlice - Treatment

Headlice - Treatment

Head lice are tiny insect parasites that live on the human head, feeding on the scalp several times a day.  Head lice reproduce by laying their eggs (nits) on the hair shaft close to the scalp.  They are not dangerous, don’t carry diseases and are not a sign of poor hygiene. Headlice are social pests and rarely pose a threat to health. Outbreaks can be controlled if parents regularly check their children’s hair for headlice and follow the recommended treatment methods if they find active lice.

Headlice facts
Headlice only live on human heads.
Headlice can live in clean or dirty hair.
Headlice are transferred mainly by direct head-to-head contact; rarely by brushes, combs, ribbons, hats etc.
Headlice do not carry disease, but bacterial infections can occur from scratching the scalp.
Headlice treatments often don’t kill 100% of the nits (eggs).
Successful treatment does not protect the person from getting more headlice later.Headlice are small insects (2-4 mm long and about 1 mm wide) with a flat body and six clawed legs, and are pale to dark brown in colour. Feed on blood, piercing the  scalp several times a day. Crawl and do not fly, jump or hop.  Nymphs (young headlice) take about a week to reach maturity, and live for another 2-3 weeks -each mature female can lay up to eight eggs a day (that’s over 150 eggs during a life cycle).Nits (eggs) are tiny, hard, yellow to white in colour and are attached firmly to the hair shaft close to the scalp. Hatch as nymphs after 7-10 days and are probably hatched or dead if more than 1-2 cm from the scalp.  May have a ‘sandy’ or ‘gritty’ feel when running fingers through the hair are easier to see than headlice but can be confused with dandruff which is flaky and easy to remove.

Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to check their child’s hair for headlice and to treat for headlice if they are present. It is not the responsibility of school  or child care centre staff to check or treat students for headlice.
Parents/guardians may be notified if a staff member believes a child has headlice. The child and other household members should be checked, and if necessary, treatment should begin before the child returns to school. A school may request a note from the doctor stating that the child has been effectively treated before the child returns to school.
Checking for headlice and nits. Check everyone in the household every week. During headlice outbreaks check each day.The wet combing technique (overleaf) has been shown  to be more reliable than just checking dry hair.Symptoms may include excessive itching of the scalp especially at the front, nape of the neck, behind the ears, under the fringe, and at the base of plaits and ponytails.
Note: Not all people with headlice will itch.

Treatment
The two most common headlice treatment methods are ‘wet combing’ and ‘chemical’ treatment: ‘wet combing’ involves wetting the hair and scalp liberally with hair conditioner to stun the headlice,  then combing the headlice and nits out.

‘Chemical’ treatment uses ‘pediculicides’ which kill the headlice.
Other treatments such as electric combs, herbal/essential oils and enzyme treatments may also remove headlice, but follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results.  People who suffer from epilepsy, heart disease or have heart pacemakers or other neurostimulator devices should avoid using or handling electric combs. If there is any adverse reaction to a treatment, seek medical advice.

Wet combing treatment
Wet combing can be used to both check for and treat headlice. You will need hair conditioner (a cheap product is fine, and white conditioner makes headlice easier to see), and a special headlice comb from a chemist. Fine metal combs are recommended. Work under a bright light or sunlight.