Advice for teachers, parents and children Head lice Advice for teachers, parents and children

Contents What are head lice? What are nits? How are head lice transmitted? How do I know if I have head lice? Detection combing If head lice are found, what do I have to do?

It’s a myth… Head lice aren’t only found in dirty hair! Head lice like all types of hair: dirty or clean, brown, fair or red, long or short, curly or straight Having head lice is not a harmful disease! It’s a common infection that can be successfully treated. Head lice are parasites that live on human heads. Head lice don’t transmit any diseases.

What are head lice?

What are head lice? The Pediculus capitis: Is an insect Size Colour Without wings 3 pairs of legs with hooked ‘claws’ Size Length: 4mm (max) Height: 2mm Colour Normally transparent therefore difficult to detect Become brown/red when they have taken a blood meal

What are head lice? The Pediculus capitis: Habitat Mobility They live in human hair, in warm and humid surroundings, especially behind the ears or around the nape of the neck Mobility Cannot fly, jump or swim, but can crawl very quickly

What are nits? Nits are NOT lice! Nits are empty shells or dead eggs which never hatched They remain attached to the hair with a kind of strong ‘glue’ deposited by the louse when laying Nits can remain weeks or even months after infection

How are head lice transmitted?

Head lice can infect anyone, not just children. How do we get head lice? Head lice are spread only through head-to-head contact, for example during : Playtime Sports Working together in the classroom Cuddles at home Head lice can infect anyone, not just children.

How do I know if we have head lice?

is the best method to identify head lice How do I know if we have head lice? A few people will get an itchy scalp Black specks may be found on the pillowcase (this is the droppings) Some people have no symptoms at all Detection combing is the best method to identify head lice

Detection combing

Detection combing Preparation Buy a good quality plastic detection comb at your local pharmacy Remove tangles with an ordinary wide-toothed comb Wet the hair and towel dry. You can apply a little olive oil to make combing easier. Divide the hair into sections.

Detection combing Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Work on one section at a time. With the teeth of the detection comb touching the scalp at the top of the section, pass the detection comb through to the ends, keeping the teeth of the comb in contact with the scalp for as long as possible. Step 2 After each pass of the comb, wipe it on a tissue and inspect for lice. Step 3 Repeat the process until all sections are completed. It will take 15 - 20 minutes to do it properly.

Detection combing Conclusion If a live moving louse is found, you have an active infestation You should not use a treatment unless you find a live moving louse Nits (empty eggs) may have been left by a previous infestation, but does not necessarily mean there is an active infection

Detection combing TIPS Make sure you have plenty of light - ideally natural daylight Don’t use lots of conditioner as it will hinder the detection of lice Perform detection combing, and treatment where necessary, on all family members on the same day, in order to greatly reduce the risk of re-infection Make detection combing part of a weekly routine, such as preparation for the school week on Sunday evening. You can request a regular e-mail reminder at www.headliceadvice.net

If head lice are found, what do I have to do?

If head lice are found, what do I have to do? Step 1 Ask the school nurse or your pharmacist for advice on effective treatment options. The main types of treatment are insecticides, non-insecticides and wet-combing. Step 2 Always read the leaflet before applying a treatment Step 3 Treat all infected family members on the same day Step 4 The NHS advises that treatments should be applied twice, seven days apart. Many people forget the second application. You can request an e-mail reminder at www.headliceadvice.net

The main points Head lice are harmless but can be very annoying. They are transmitted only by head-to-head contact with an infected person Detection combing should be carried out every week If lice are found: use an effective head lice treatment and treat all infected family members at the same time If no lice are found: do a weekly check. You can request a weekly e-mail reminder at www.headliceadvice.net

For more information: www.headliceadvice.net