Summary: Treating headlice
Text: Head lice are tiny insects that live in hair where they breed and
feed on blood from the scalp. They are about the size of a sesame seed, have 6 legs
and range from tan to greyish white in colour. They live up to 30 days and
cannot survive for more than 2 days away from the human scalp.
Nits are the eggs of the head lice. They look like small, whitish specks about
the size of a pinhead and are glued to the hair shaft. Nits are first laid very
close to the scalp, and then grow out with the hair. Nits hatch within 7 to 10
days and mature into adult lice in about 7 days.
Head lice crawl; they cannot fly or jump and they do not live on animals. They
hang on to the hair with hook like claws at the end of each leg.
Nits are usually found on the hair shaft at the nape of the neck, under the
fringe and behind the ears.
How are they spread?
Lice are spread by head-to-head contact, or sometimes from sharing hats, head
gear, combs or brushes with an infested person.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may be absent, or may include:
A tickling feeling in the hair
Itchy scalp from lice bites
Sores can develop from scratching and these can sometimes become infected.
Fine black powder (lice faeces) or pale grey lice skins may be seen on the
pillow.
To check for head lice and nits:
Look closely through the hair and scalp for nits and lice with a bright light,
magnifying glass and fine-tooth comb.
Nits are usually noticed first and are easier to see. They are glued to the
hair shaft, behind the ears and at the back of the neck. Unlike dandruff they
cannot be brushed off.
If you find head lice:
Check the rest of the household for head lice, and only treat if they are
detected.
Treat everyone found to be infested on the same day.
Treat again in 7 days.
Tell any possible close contacts, such as friends and work mates.
After the first treatment, the affected person can return to school or work.
How do you treat head lice?
For a baby under 12 months of age, or if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or
have sensitive skin, consult a health professional for advice. Manual removal
may be recommended in preference to chemical disinfection.
Head lice treatments can be purchased from a chemist without a prescription.
Follow the instructions.
Avoid getting the product into eyes; cover eyes with a towel or washer and wear
gloves when applying the product. Wash your hands thoroughly after use.
Helpful tips
Do not use a conditioner on hair before (or after) applying the treatment.
Do not blow dry hair after treatment as the heat may inactivate the product.
Do not re-wash hair for 1-2 days after treatment.
After treatment
Check that the product worked. Comb hair with a fine-tooth comb, wipe contents
onto a tissue or cloth, and look for any movement. If lice are still active,
the head lice could be resistant to the insecticide.
If the other preparation fails, daily inspection and removal of eggs and lice
with a fine-tooth comb or fingernails is the only option left. This procedure
is tedious but, if followed strictly, will eventually clear the hair of lice. A
magnifying glass may help you to see the eggs and lice more easily.
Check combs, brushes, headgear and bedding for lice. Combs and brushes may be
soaked in hot water (>50oC) and detergent for 10 minutes. Bed linen,
clothes, and towels can be washed in the hot cycle in the washing machine or in
a hot drier. Items that cannot be washed or dry-cleaned - eg. hats - can be placed in a plastic bag for a minimum of four
days.
Nit removal is not necessary
To help minimise levels of head lice within the
community, it is a good idea to check your child's hair on a weekly basis.
For more information please contact your local public health unit, community
health centre, pharmacist or doctor.