Head Lice
Head lice are tiny insects that live in the hair and on the head. They are easily passed between children who work and play closely with their heads together.
Causes
Head lice are flat, wingless insects, about 3mm long. They are usually black or dark brown, and attach to the base of a hair. They lay a large number of eggs(nits), which can be seen as tiny white/brown/grey ovals stuck firmly to the hair close to the scalp.
Who's affected?
Many people associate head lice with dirtiness, but they prefer clean hair. Almost all schoolchildren have at least one attack, if not more.
Head lice can be caught by direct contact or by sharing combs, brushes and hats.
Symptoms
The main symptom of head lice is itchiness - If your child is scratching their scalp, then you need to check their hair. You may see tiny red spots on the scalp or may see the lice and nits. Check the hair around the back of the neck and behind the ears.
Diagnosis and treatment
Look for lice or nits by using a fine-tooth comb after washing the hair. Always check the whole family if your child is affected.
There are several ways to treat head lice. After washing the hair apply lots of conditioner and wet comb it thoroughly with a fine-tooth comb . The lice and nits will find it hard to stick to the hair and will be caught on the comb. You will have to repeat this for several days to catch all the lice and nits, and comb your child's hair daily to check for lice afterwards.
Pesticide shampoo can be used, although some people are concerned about harmful side effects. Ask your chemist about the most suitable one (sometimes head lice may be resistant to this) and follow the instructions as you may need to repeat the treatment.
Further help
Wash anything that the head comes in contact with, such as all combs, brushes and pillowcases, regularly and after an attack. Natural remedies such as leaving tea tree oil (or any oily hair conditioning product) on the hair can help to prevent lice.
