Head Lice Product

Question:
Reading the posting of lice...never had problem as a kid or with my own kids (yet). How do kids get it? and once they have it, does everyone in the household get it? How can it be prevented and how to prevent infecting other family members?

Answer:
HEAD LICE FACT SHEET Head lice are a bother, nuisance, annoyance... but they are not a health hazard! Anyone can get head lice! School children get them more often because they're in head-to-head contact more than adults. Parents can get head lice from their children. Head lice are tiny insects with no wings. THEY CANNOT JUMP OR FLY. Lice crawl quickly from one head to another when heads touch. Head lice live and breed on the human head only. (This is one problem you can't blame on the dog of cat!) They are only 1-2 mm long, greyish brown in color and hard to see. One adult louse can produce up to ten eggs (or nits) in 24 hours.

NITS ARE VERY TINY EGGS, about half the size of a pin-head. New eggs are laid right next to the scalp on a strand of hair, are tan to brown in color and difficult to see. They may look like dandruff but they're firmly glued to the hair and you can't flick them off. Head lice do not live long and their nits do not hatch away from the warmth and moisture of the scalp.

ITCHING AND SCRATCHING CAN BE THE FIRST SIGNS of head lice. But sometimes there are no symptoms at all.

YOU HAVE NOTICED NITS IN YOUR CHILD'S HAIR---- DON'T PANIC --Get a head lice shampoo, cream rinse or lotion from your drugstore. You don't need to visit your doctor. Talk with a pharmacist if you have any questions. Head lice products do not prevent head lice. Use them only when lice or nits are present. --Ask the pharmacist about the different products. Tell the pharmacist the age of your children and allergies they may have eg. ragweed, mums (chrysanthemums). Remember, treatment products are insecticides. Read the directions carefully. OVERUSE OF THESE PRODUCTS CAN BE HARMFUL.

--If you are pregnant or breast feeding and need treatment for lice, talk to your doctor or call the Motherisk Program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto at (416) 813-6780, BEFORE CHOOSING A PRODUCT. IF YOU TREAT OTHER PEOPLE, WEAR PLASTIC OR RUBBER GLOVES.

--When using a head lice product: -Use it for the length of time given in the directions. If you rinse it off too soon, lice and nits may not be killed. If you leave it on too long, you're over exposing the person to an insecticide. -Rinse your child's hair under a tap (instead of a shower). You don't want your child to swallow the product or to get it on the rest of the skin. -Keep the products away from the eyes, nose or mouth. Hold a towel over the eyes for protection. -Wear plastic or rubber gloves when treating another person. -Wash your hands well right after using a head lice product. -Store unused head lice products out of the reach of young children. -Now the most important job begins... HEAD LICE PRODUCTS KILL MANY OF THE NITS (EGGS) BUT MAY NOT KILL ALL THE EGGS. SO, REMOVE THE EGGS AND STOP THE CYCLE! -Use bright natural light to help you see the nits better- a magnifying glass might help too. -Use a comb to remove tangles, then take hold of a lock of hair. Use your thumbnail against your first finger to slide the nits from the roots right down to the tips and off the hair. Place the nits in a bag. Pin back that lock of hair and continue until all the nits are gone. Look closely for the very tiny eggs laid right next to the scalp. -Some plastic or metal fine-tooth combs may help, but most parents find fingers work best!

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE ITCHY KIND Follow -up of close contacts is very important. Check the heads of all people in your house. Also tell others such as grandparents or baby-sitters. Those with head lice should be treated at the same time. Tell the school, day care center, and sports or other children's groups so the parents can be told to check their children's heads. Also let the parents of all playmates know to help prevent the spread and protect your child from getting lice again.

WHAT ABOUT THE TEDDY BEARS? -Remember, head lice don't live long off the head. -Wash bedding, towels, hair brushes, combs, recently worn jackets, hats, and hair accessories to be on the safe side. Don't forget helmets. -The heat of the hot water or the hot cycle of your clothes dryer will kill any live lice and nits. (Mr. Bear doesn't have to be washed or go into the deep freezer for two weeks after all!)

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY COME BACK? SCREAM INTO A PILLOW THEN... WITH A FAKED SMILE BEGIN THE TREATMENT ROUTINE AGAIN.

Head lice might return because: -nits were missed -the product didn't work (try a different one) -there was close contact with someone who has untreated head lice

Most products suggest your should wait one week before using again. In the meantime, remove and kill the live ones, remove nits, wash and rinse your hair vigorously daily.

Some parents check with the local health food stores about other treatments. (Hi- it's me- Lynn! The product they're referring to is Tea Tree Oil. I went out and bought some.)

SURVIVAL TIPS FROM EXPERIENCED PARENTS -Keep your sense of humor. -Don't blame your kids-- they feel bad enough! -This is a great opportunity to invite your friends and relatives to help "nit-pick". -Don't expect your young children to be able to sit for long periods. Take breaks. -Provide distractions like coloring books and puzzles or rent a funny video- be creative. -Little shoulders and necks can get sore. Have them rest their heads on their arms and lean on a table. -Nit picking can take up to 6 hours, depending on the number of eggs and the thickness of the hair. -If you get tired of nit picking you might want to cut out a few hairs. -Shaving or cutting the hair is not necessary-- a change in hair style might make a child feel worse.

KEEPING LICE AWAY---THINGS THAT HELP -Teach children not to share hats, scarves, combs, hair accessories and helmets. -Keep long hair tied back to avoid close hair to hair contact. -Send children to school with bags to store their belongings. A garbage bag works great! -As long as kids are kids, keep checking their heads for lice and nits--- during combing , TV time, bath time, anytime, all the time.

Head lice products DO NOT Prevent HEAD lice but finding lice early can save a lot of work later.