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Head lice infestation or "nits" as they are
more commonly called is one of the most common of all contagious diseases
found in children and is caused by insects which are barely seen by the
human eye laying eggs on the scalp.
The lice will spread quickly to those who come into contact with those
affected by head lice but luckily they are easy to deal and treat, with
several products now being made available on the market.
How do I know if my child has head lice?
Head lice are barely visible to the naked eye but they are greyish in
colour and move very quickly on six legs, the most common areas to be
affected are behind the ears and around the back of the head. One single
female can lay up to as many as 150 eggs, the eggs are silvery white in
colour and are oval in shape, they are often noticeable and resemble fine
silver grains of sand stuck on the strands of hair.
While the eggs are smaller than the adults, they are often easier to identify
because they are numerous and they don't move around. After a period of
7 to 9 days, the eggs will hatch and then they can lay eggs of their own
and the cycle continues if not dealt with appropriately.
Are there any symptoms with head lice?
Head lice are usually identified by itching and irritation on the scalp,
the itching is usually very persistent and will generally be much worse
at night. Although the lice are usually very small, head lice can normally
be identified through the eggs, the eggs can often be miss-diagnosed as
dandruff but a simple test will determine if the flecks can easily be
removed. Eggs are very difficult to remove between the fingernails and
cannot easily be washed or pulled out.
How is head lice treated?
There are a variety of shampoos, cream rinses and aerosols available from
the chemist for the treatment of head lice, these are usually called pediculicidal
treatments and when properly administered they will kill the head lice.
Most treatments of this kind will require a second application after a
specified period of time.
After treatment with the shampoos, it is essential that the hair be combed
thoroughly with a fine toothcomb in order to ensure removal of all the
lice and their eggs. This part of the treatment requires a great deal
of patience and the hair has to be gone over a small lock at a time but
is an essential part of the treatment and great care should be taken performing
it.
Head lice can live for up to 48 hours when away from the host and the
eggs can live for up to 2 weeks so all items that have been in contact
with the child will have to be disinfected to prevent re-infestation.
Bedding, towels and hats can be washed on a hot cycle and then dried on
the hottest cycle of a drier for at least 20 minutes while items such
as combs and brushes can be boiled in hot water.
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