Head lice

Head lice are tiny sesame-seed sized insects that live on hair and feed on blood from the scalp.

Although they aren’t dangerous and don’t spread germs, their bites can become inflamed and infected if your child scratches them. Head lice are caught when an infected head comes into contact with another head, which makes children in daycare and preschool particularly susceptible.

It is possible to see head lice but it’s more common to see lice eggs, called nits. They resemble dandruff, except that they’re firmly attached to the hair shaft and can’t be brushed off. Nits hatch after seven to 10 days and it takes 10-14 days for them to mature – once mature they reproduce, and the cycle starts again. If your child has head lice for several weeks they can make her scalp itch – although it’s one of the last signs of an infestation it’s often the first one parents spot.

Treatment

Our pediatrician may recommend insecticidal shampoo or lotion to kill your child’s head lice. These products contain strong chemicals so you need to follow the instructions carefully; you’ll likely have to repeat the process after a week or so to kill any newly hatched lice you didn’t get first time round. Don’t use any hair conditioner prior to application, and leave hair for two to three days before washing again to ensure the treatment has time to work.

Alternately, you can use a fine-toothed nit comb to go through your child’s hair a section at a time combing out nits and any live lice in his hair (if your child is under two you’ll need to use this method, as chemical treatments are unsuitable for babies). Slather conditioner on his hair beforehand, as it prevents the lice from gripping the hair shaft as you comb, and wipe the comb clean on a paper towel after each stroke. Then rinse his hair as normal and repeat the process every three days for two weeks.

Head lice don’t survive long once they fall off but as an added precaution, wash your child’s bed linen, soft toys and recently worn clothing in hot water (130 degrees+) and buy new hairbrushes, combs, hair ties or bands.

Prevention

There’s little you can do to prevent head lice except tie long hair back for school and nursery – braiding may also help. but this will probably do very little. Tell your child not to share hairbrushes, combs, hair ties or hair bands, and check their scalp regularly for nits – these are laid close to the scalp, usually at the nape of the neck and behind the ears. 

The information on this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.