Infestation by head lice occurs from time to time, most
commonly among children and is easily transmitted from one to
another. However, the condition is found in people of all age
groups and often other family members will become infested. All
socioeconomic groups are affected; this condition is not
due to having dirty hair.
Head louse infestation may cause no symptoms or, if heavily
infested, may cause itching o the scalp, loss of sleep and mild
fever. If the scalp is scratched frequently bacteria can get into
the skin and a cause a secondary infection. You may be able to
see the the lice (about 5mm long) in the hair and clumps of tiny
eggs stuck tightly to the base of the hairs. Nits close to the
scalp indicate recent egg laying and infestation. Empty egg cases
may be found further up the hair as the hair continues to grow
normally. You may find these after effective treatment and should
not worry.
Transmission is by direct contact but may possibly occur
through shared headgear, combs and brushes.
Prevention and Treatment
If lice are discovered, most people resort to using one of the
many established chemical shampoos or lotions in the first line
instance. Unfortunately many people find the infestation recurs
and so continue to pour chemicals on the affected head, which
could cause damage to the scalp. In addition the head lice become
resistant to the treatments and the chemicals cease to be
effective. So:-
- Start by washing hair on alternate days, using plenty of
conditioner. Cover your child's hair with conditioner.
This makes the hair slippery and the head lice cannot
hold on. Once hair has been rinsed, but still wet, comb
through with detector comb again, this breaks their legs
and combs out nits.
- If this procedure is continued for at 2 weeks, any newly
hatched lice will be removed before they are adult and
able to lay more eggs. The conditioner will help kill any
small lice and also help prevent any dryness to the scalp
caused from the chemicals in head lice treatment. The
comb may also damage any unhatched eggs, stopping the
lice emerging.
- If one family member is affected, use detector comb daily
on all other household members until head lice has been
eliminated from original person.
It is possible to kill off lice using conditioner and wet comb
method alone. This is now the preferred method of treatment
Advice on control and treatment of head louse
Infestation can be controlled by regular inspection and
treatment of affected children and adults, and their regular
contacts including all family members and contacts at school,
whether or not lice or nits n found in the latter. Check your
children's scalp regularly, particularly if you know there is an
outbreak of head lice at school. Buy a 'nit comb' and use it
regularly. If you find head lice, treat the whole family. For
children under 6 months ask your doctor for advice before using
any lotions.
Pesticides used for treatment and control of head louse
infestation.
These include: Malathion, Permethrin, Phenothrin and
Carbaryl.
You can buy lotions to treat head lice over the counter at the
chemist. To prevent the emergence of resistant strains of head
lice, it is usual for districts to periodically change the
recommended pesticide. The current recommendation for Harrow is a
lotion containing malathion.
All the preparations are toxic to some extent and care should
thus be exercised in their use, with particular care being taken
to avoid accidental ingestion or contact with eyes. Alcohol based
lotions can trigger asthma in susceptible individuals and these
should use an alternative water based preparation.
Nits (the eggs), although killed by malathion and
Carbaryl,
remain tightly attached to the hairs and may have to be combed
out with special fine toothed 'nit combs', although the pesticide will kill off the infestation. It is well worth buying
some nit combs and using them regularly. Combing the hair may
break the legs of the head lice and reduce the chance of an
infestation spreading. With regular combing using 'nit combs' it
is possibly to clear the infestation without resorting to
pesticides.
In the control of head lice, sterilization of clothing,
bedding, combs and brushes is unnecessary as treatment of the
hair provides sufficient protection from reinvasion by the
short-lived lice that may have strayed from the head.
