HEAD LICE

Head lice Advice Evidence based guidelines suggest that parents of primary school children should receive regular appropriate and consistent advice of the management of head lice. Alert letters being sent home are not advisable as they can cause unnecessary alarm and inappropriate treatment. They are a whole community problem and everyone who has had close contact should check their heads and treat as needed.

Head lice Head lice are very common, they can cause itching, but are not harmful. However, They are a nuisance. Head lice are particularly common among children between 4 – 11 years of age. HEADLICE ARE SIX-LEGGED INSECTS, NOT MUCH BIGGER THAN A PINHEAD. (size of a sesame seed). THEY LIVE FOR THIRTY DAYS (ON AVERAGE). ANYONE CAN CATCH HEADLICE – THEY DON’T CARE IF THE HAIR IS CLEAN OR DIRTY. HEADLICE SPREAD THROUGH DIRECT HEAD TO HEAD CONTACT – WHICH OFTEN HAPPENS BETWEEN CHILDREN.

NITS! A ‘nit’ is just an empty case that remains firmly stuck to the hair after the louse has hatched. Having nits doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has head lice.

How they move…. Head lice cannot; Jump Swim Fly However they can; Crawl quickly (about 23cms per minute) along hairs up to the scalp.

More facts... Head lice feed off of the blood. They cannot survive off of the head for very long. Transmission on clothes, brushes, hats, and other items is unlikely. However, it is best to not share.

Detection combing Wet detection combing.

Treatment Wet combing – using conditioner and a detection comb. It can be time consuming, needs to be repeated every 3-4 days over 2 weeks to break the life cycle. 4 times in 2 weeks, days 5, 9, 13 and 17 (NHS choices) Treatment with chemicals – some can be harsh, however, there are hypoallergenic products on the market. Some need to be repeated 1 week later. Sometimes head lice can build up resistance. Also, you still need to comb through using a detection comb.

The life cycle 0 days – egg laid close to scalp 7-10 days – Nymph emerges, leaving empty (nit) stuck to the hair 9-12 days – first molt 12-15 days – second molt 15-20 days – third moult (8-10 days after hatching) 20-22 days – Adult female (up to 3mm long) male mate smaller 22-30 days – female lays first eggs 2 days after mating 30 days – Female lays 6-8 eggs/day until the end of her 30 day life (150 eggs in total)

QUESTIONS?