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Myth or Fact?

Before we look at the treatment of headlice let's try and dispel a few common myths about these unpleasant parasites.

MYTHS - none of the following are true!

• They can jump, fly and swim.
• They prefer dirty or unwashed hair.
• They are impossible to get rid of.
• Ordinary shampoo will get rid of them.
• Headlice come from animals or pets.

FACTS - all of the following are true!

• They are a dreadful nuisance.
• 1 in 10 children will suffer from headlice, usually during lower school.
• They will keep coming back if not treated.
• If your child gets them it doesn’t mean you are a bad parent, or your child’s hygiene isn’t adequate. It simply means that your child has been unlucky enough to catch them.
• Headlice only affect humans.
• Prevention is a good way to avoid a cure.

What are headlice?

Head lice are parasites. This means they need a host to survive. In this case the host is human, and usually young. Head lice are tiny wingless insects that are usually about the size of a pin head. They are normally grey or greyish brown in colour. They multiply by laying eggs, or "nits" which are like very small sacks and are white in colour and always found attached to the lower end of the hair near the scalp. Headlice are incredibly itchy and uncomfortable and scratching can make the scalp raw.

Who is at greatest risk?

They are more common in children of lower school age than in any other age group although any one, of any age, even with very short hair, is fair game to a louse!

How do they spread?

They spread by head to head contact and simply walk across from one infected head to a new host. This often happens when children are playing and two heads come into contact so children can pick them up anywhere they come into contact with other children. They multiply very quickly and one louse soon becomes quite a lot. So confirming your child has them is usually very easy and simple, as is getting rid of them. Head lice aren’t dangerous but they certainly are a big nuisance, both to children and parents alike so it is important to tackle the problem as quickly as possible!

Detection

The first sign is an abnormal amount of head scratching and complaints of a very itchy scalp.

Important: If left untreated their numbers will grow with alarming speed.

Treatment

The Department of Health recommends two forms of treatment:

Method 1 - Combing through This is a simple method and doesn’t involve the use of chemicals or pesticides. Simply wash the hair in your normal shampoo and then apply a lot of conditioner. The conditioner makes the hair shaft very slippery which makes it harder for the lice to get a grip and easier for you to remove them. Using a very fine toothed comb, start at the scalp and comb the hair through right to the tip. After each comb thought clean the comb and try to ensure that all the hair gets a good combing. Head lice combs can be brought from most chemists and supermarkets for reasonable prices.

Important: Repeat this every 2-3 days for a fortnight to catch any newly hatched lice and then regularly check the hair to make sure the lice have not returned.

Method 2 - Shampoos and Lotions Ordinary shampoo won’t work on lice, it just cleans up the environment the lice live in, and so a special lice treatment is required. Today the treatments are easier, far more effective and (these things matter to children) most actually smell quite nice. It is important to remember that a lot of treatments will contain pesticides or chemicals. Some parents strongly recommend the use of tea tree oil to deter lice. The oil is sprayed on and combed through and is used daily. It appears to help stop lice from coming on to a treated head and does not contain any pesticides or chemicals.

Important: You must let your child’s school know if your child has headlice because this will enable them to notify other parents whose children may be suffering.