Headlice

HEADLICE – Information for families

 

 

About head lice

 

·            Head lice are small insects about the size of a sesame seed, when full grown.  They live in the hair very close to the scalp.

 

·            Nits are empty egg cases which are glued to the hair strands and move away from the scalp as the hair grows.

 

·            You only have a head louse infection if you find a live, moving louse not nits.  Nits, on their own, are a sign of a past infection.

 

·            Itching is an allergic reaction to louse bites and is a late sign of infection.  The itching can take a while to go away after treatment.

 

·            Head lice walk or clamber from one head to another if heads are close together for some time.  They do not jump or fly.

 

·            Anyone can catch head lice, young or old, whether their hair is short, long, dirty or clean.

 

·            Many infections are caught and passed on through family and friends in the home and community not just in schools.

 

·            The best way to prevent head louse infection is for families to check their heads regularly (eg: after each hair wash) using a detection comb and by following the advice in this leaflet.

 

 

PLEASE NOTE:- 

 

It does not matter how many nits you find or whether you have an itchy scalp unless you find a live louse you do not have a head louse infection.

 

 How to detect a head louse infection

 

This is best done on wet hair, as lice are move visible and cannot move on wet, conditioned hair.

 

You will need a plastic detection comb which can be obtained from the pharmacy (the teeth are spaced and angled to lift out lice).

 

1.      Wash and rinse hair as normal.

 

2.      Apply conditioner and massage in but do not rinse off.

 

3.      Remove tangles with a wide-toothed comb.

 

4.      Change to the detection comb and comb hair in sections from roots to ends starting at the forehead and combing towards the nape of the neck.

 

5.      Wipe the comb on kitchen paper after each stroke and examine for lice.

 

6.      Repeat until whole head has been covered.

 

7.      Rinse hair well.

 

8.      Dry hair as normal.

 

9.      If any lice are found then carry out contact tracing and treatment as described in this leaflet.

 

If you are unsure about what you have found, stick it to a piece of white paper with sellotape and show it to your pharmacist or GP.

 

[ For ‘Bug Busting’, carry out stages 1 to 7 and then repeat stages 3 to 6 but then comb from nape of neck to forehead until no more lice are being combed out – see under ‘How to treat’ on the back page ]

 

PLEASE NOTE:-

 

The best way to stop head louse infection is to do detection combing regularly.

 

Do not use insecticide treatments to prevent infection.

 

How to track a head louse infection

 

 

You need to find out who the lice have come from or have gone to in order to prevent re-infection.  These people may not know that they have lice.

 

Use the following check list to make sure that you get in touch with everyone who has been in close head contact with the infected person.  Each person on the list should check themselves on wet hair using a detection comb.  If lice are found, they too should list and tell contacts and treat the infection as described in this leaflet.

 

 

	NAMES	CONTACTED
Parents
Grandparents
Brothers/Sisters
Aunts/Uncles
Cousins
Close Friends
Other householders
School/Nursery Friends
Babysitter
Club Members
Dancing/Sports Friends
Neighbours
Others

 

ONLY TREAT IF YOU HAVE FOUND A LIVE, MOVING HEAD LOUSE.

             

 

              SEE:- ‘How to treat head louse infections’ on the next page.

How to treat head louse infections

 

You need to choose which method of treatment is best for you:-

 

·            A water-based (aqueous) insecticide called a liquid used for young children and those with eczema or asthma.

 

·            An alcohol-based insecticide called a lotion used for older children and adults.

 

·            The ‘Bug Busting’ method, which is wet-combing using a detection comb with conditioner (as described under detection), repeated twice weekly for two weeks.  Use this method if you wish to avoid using chemicals or the insecticide treatment has failed.

Using insecticide treatments

 

1.      Ask your CP or pharmacist which lotion or liquid to use and obtain sufficient for two 50ml applications repeated seven days apart.  Thick curly or long hair will need extra lotion.

 

2.      Apply liquid or lotion to dry hair.

 

3.      Parting hair and working over the whole head, sprinkle on and rub into the scalp until it is wet.  There is no need to apply further down that where a pony tail band is placed.

 

4.      Allow the hair to dry naturally and leave on for 12 hours or overnight.

 

5.      Shampoo as normal and comb whilst wet if you wish to remove dead lice and eggs (nits).

 

6.      Repeat this treatment 7 days later to kill any lice which may have hatched from eggs which were not killed the first time.

 

7.      Check head 2 days after the second treatment.  If you find live lice, ask your pharmacist or GP for advice.

 

PLEASE NOTE:-   If the problem will not go away – Did you:-

• Use enough lotion or liquid?
• Apply it correctly?
• Leave it on for 12 hours?
• Repeat the treatment 7 days later?
• Check all the close family and friends and treat at the same time?