If you find head lice early, they are easier to treat. Check everyone in the family once a week.

MANAGING HEAD LICE

Itching is often the first thing that raises concern about head lice, however it is not a reliable sign of head lice. You can have head lice and not know. Lice move fast in dry hair and are easy to miss. Most children who itch do not have head lice. If you find head lice early, they are easier to treat.

Check everyone in the family (adults and children) once a week. If a close contact has head lice, keep checking every 2 days until no lice are found for 10 consecutive days. Checking for head lice is easier to remember if you do it on the same day each week.

Eggs will be glued to the hair. Those found within 1.5cm from the scalp mean an active condition. They will hatch and will need to be treated. If you find only eggs more than 1.5cm from the scalp and no adult or young lice, the condition is inactive and does not require treatment.

About head lice combs …

Head lice combs are very fine toothed, made from plastic or metal and are designed to remove head lice. Some combs also remove some eggs. There are different types available: plastic, metal and electronic. Metal head lice combs with cylindrical teeth remove head lice and eggs better than combs with flat teeth.

Conditioner and Combing : a technique for the detection and/or treatment of head lice

Conditioner and combing is the most effective way of finding head lice. Conditioner and combing is also an effective way of treating head lice, particularly mild conditions. The conditioner stuns the lice for some minutes so they can be easily removed.
Conditioner and combing is cheap. It also avoids the use of head lice chemicals (insecticides). Using conditioner and combing every two days between chemical treatments removes young lice as they hatch from the eggs. No insecticide will kill the eggs.

For conditioner and combing you will need:

• white hair conditioner
• an ordinary comb
• a fine tooth comb
• hair clips
• white tissues or material
• good light
• a magnifying glass
• a mirror if combing yourself
• a plastic container
• an old toothbrush, safety pin or dental floss

Conditioner and Combing Detection

Untangle dry hair with an ordinary comb. Apply hair conditioner to dry hair. Use enough conditioner to thoroughly cover the whole scalp and all hair from the roots to tips. Use the ordinary comb to evenly distribute conditioner and divide the hair into four or more sections using the hair clips. A mirror helps if combing yourself. Change to a head lice comb. Start with a section at the back of the head. Place the teeth of the head lice comb flat against the scalp. Comb the hair from the roots through to the tips. Wipe the comb on the tissue or material after each stroke. In good light, check for head lice. Adult lice are easier to see – young lice are difficult to see. A magnifying glass will help. You may see some eggs. Comb each section twice until you have combed the whole head. If the comb becomes clogged, use the old toothbrush, dental floss or safety pin to remove the head lice or eggs.

If you find head lice, decide on a treatment option. It is recommended that you use:

• The conditioner and combing technique as a treatment alone, or
• The conditioner and combing technique in between the use of a chemical treatment.

It is essential to check for effectiveness after each application of a chemical product. Some head lice are resistant to some chemical treatments. This means that this treatment will not be effective in killing head lice.

If you choose the conditioner and combing as a treatment, see below. If you choose a chemical treatment, wash the conditioner off and allow the hair to dry before applying a chemical treatment.

Conditioner and Combing Treatment
Follow all steps for ‘Conditioner and Combing Detection’ above. Keep combing the whole head until all the hair conditioner is gone. Repeat the conditioner and combing every 2 days until you find no more head lice for 10 consecutive days. You will be removing all the adult lice and any young lice that hatch from the eggs.

Cleaning up after conditioner and combing detection and/or treatment
Place all tissues or material in a plastic bag, tie the top and put it in the bin. Wash hair normally. Soak combs in soapy hot water (just after boiling) for at least 30 seconds to ensure head lice are killed (this should be done by an adult). When the water has cooled, use an old toothbrush to remove the debris.

Choosing a Chemical Treatment Product

The two most important things to think about when choosing and using chemical treatments are safety and effectiveness.
Choose only chemical treatments designed specifically to treat head lice. Choose only chemical treatments which have an ‘Aust. L’ or ‘Aust R’ number on the label. These products are licensed or registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia. This means they are approved for safety. Be wary of chemical treatments which are not officially approved.

Using chemical treatments

Chemical treatments are insecticides (poisons) and need to be used with caution. Check for safety warnings and check with your Pharmacist if you have any questions about safety and possible side effects. Use a chemical treatment only when you actually find head lice. This avoids unnecessary exposure to chemicals.

Chemical treatments do not repel head lice. They should not be used to prevent head lice. Chemical treatments are only safe when they are used as directed on the label. Overuse can damage the scalp.

A chemical treatment is effective when it actually kills the head lice. To work properly, the chemical treatment must be in contact with the head lice at the right concentration and for the right amount of time. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully.

No one chemical treatment will work for everyone. It is essential to check for effectiveness every time you use a chemical treatment.

No chemical treatment will kill eggs. The eggs will continue to hatch after the treatment. Therefore it is essential to apply the second treatment one week later to kill any young lice that have hatched. The conditioner and combing technique can be used in between to help remove lice that are hatching.

The information above was provided by Queensland Health.