Headlice
November 2, 2008
Head lice (Pediculus capitis) affects only humans, and cannot be passed on to, or caught from animals
Head lice are tiny (pin-head sized) grey-brown, wingless insects, which live by sucking blood from the scalp. Their eggs are known as nits and they are laid glued to the base of hairs, and look like tiny white specks.
The eggs hatch after 7 to 10 days, and 10 to 14 days after hatching the lice are mature and between 2 and 4 mm long (the size of a sesame seed). Once mature they start to reproduce, so numbers can grow alarmingly if not treated.
Head lice are common in schoolchildren, particularly between the ages of 4 and 11, but anyone with hair can catch them
Head lice often cause itching of the scalp. If you suspect head lice, check the base of hairs for eggs and comb the hair over a piece of white paper to see if you can spot any dark mature lice.
Treatment
Head lice are difficult to remove. Lice can be a persistent and recurring nuisance, so it is important to treat them quickly and thoroughly.
Once infestation is confirmed it can be treated at home by either using a wet comb with conditioner, or medicated lotions, combined with a special nit comb available from pharmacies.
Wet combing method
Wet combing, or 'bug-busting' is used to remove lice without using chemical treatments. This method can be helpful because head lice are growing increasingly resistant to the insecticides used to remove them.
The best procedure is as follows:
Wash the hair as normal using an ordinary shampoo,
apply conditioner liberally to wet hair (this causes the lice to lose their grip on the hair),
Comb the hair through with a normal comb first,with a fine tooth nit comb, comb from the roots along the complete length of the hair and after each stroke check the comb for lice and wipe it clean. Work methodically over the whole head for at least 30 minutes,
Rinse the hair as normal,
repeat every three days for at least two weeks.
Medicated lotion or rinse
Ask your pharmacist for an over-the-counter (OTC) insecticide lotion or crème rinse. Only use a lotion if you find a living (moving) head louse. Apply the preparation according to the instructions, and remove the lice and eggs with a fine-toothed nit comb. You should take care when applying treatment because the preparations are usually toxic. The normal advice is to treat once, and repeat seven days later.
Always ask for advice before using medicated lotions on young babies (under 6 months), pregnant women or people with asthma, or allergies, and always read the instructions carefully.
There is no need to wash clothing, or bedding, if they have come into contact with head lice. This is because head lice quickly die without a host to provide warmth and food.
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