Lice

• email
• save PDF
• print

When to see the doctor

Go to the doctor if: 

• your child is itching excessively and it interrupts their sleep
• sores develop on the scalp, and weep or spread.

What causes it?

The head louse (Pediculus huminus capitis) is spread from person to person by close contact, despite close attention to hygiene. It can be spread, for example, by wearing an infected person’s hat or scarf, or by using their comb. The eggs (nits) usually take about a week to hatch. Body lice or pubic lice are not common in children and can be transmitted through clothing or linen. The presence of body lice in a child does not signify sexual contact or poor hygiene.

What are the symptoms?

The first sign of head lice is usually itching and scratching of the head, especially the nape of the neck and behind the ears. If you look closely at your child’s hair, you will see many small, white, oval-shaped eggs (nits) firmly attached to the root of the hair shaft, close to the scalp. The further away from the scalp, the longer the nit has been there (hair grows at the rate of 0.3 mm a day).

The insects themselves move very quickly and are difficult to see unless you part the hair very quickly. There is no need to chase them; the eggs are good enough evidence of their presence.

How is it treated?

Anti-lice shampoos are available from the chemist without a prescription. (They contain either malathion or pyriform as the active ingredient.) Head lice are becoming resistant to these chemicals, and they are often very harsh, unpleasant and ineffective to use. If you do choose to use them then use strictly according to instructions.

A more effective treatment is the use of hair conditioner. Any conditioner will do – you do not have to buy expensive brands. Apply a very generous amount of conditioner to dampened hair, and rub into the scalp and along the hair shafts. Leave on for at least 15 minutes. You may place a shower cap over your child’s head while you are waiting. The action of the conditioner is to suffocate the lice, which then release their claws from the hair shaft or scalp. A fine-toothed lice comb can then be used to comb out the conditioner. Use a tissue or tap water in the sink to rinse the comb between strokes. You will often see lice bodies that you have combed out.

This treatment needs to repeated every 2-3 days for two weeks, but is very effective. It is time-consuming, but can be turned into an opportunity to discuss the day’s events, or deeper intimacies with your child! Younger children are also often delighted by the ‘gross’ effect of seeing the dead lice!

It is also important to try and comb out nits carefully with a fine-toothed comb. You do not need to shave your child’s hair. There is no need to cut a child’s long hair very short just because they have lice. The conditioner is very effective.

How can I prevent it?

Lice are highly contagious, and can spread between families and between children in the same class. Check the whole family for lice, and even if you do not see any eggs or lice, it may well be worthwhile to treat other family members if they complain of an itchy scalp. It is important to let the child’s creche, kindergarten or school know that your child has lice. Keep your child at home until you have treated them.

Clean and vacuum your child’s room, as well as any areas in which they have been playing. Soak all brushes and combs in anti-lice shampoo for several hours to disinfect them. Wash all bedding, blankets and clothes in hot water, and seal hats or other items which can’t be washed easily in plastic bags for two to three weeks in order to kill the eggs.

• Rated18 ratingsRate this item
• FeedbackTell us what you think of this item