Headlice

Head lice are parasitic wingless insects. Head lice are very common among young children, specially in child care centres and schools. Head lice are extremely infectious. Close contact or sharing personal belongings, such as hats or hairbrushes, puts person at risk. They exist on people's heads and feed on their blood. Personal hygiene has nothing to do with getting head lice. They lay eggs, called nits, that stick to hair very close to the scalp. Head lice do not spread disease. Having head lice does not mean you are not hygenic.

Head lice are equal chance parasites; they do not appreciate socio-economic class distinctions. Their attendance does not connote a lack of hygiene or sanitation practiced by their host. Head lice are primarily acquired by direct head-to-head contact with an infected person's hair, but may unusually be transferred with shared combs, hats and other hair accessories. Head lice have been around for as long as humans, moving from head to head to reproduce and foster. Head lice do not have a partiality for the heads which they live on and will move easily from one to another by simply walking across when two heads are touching.

Headlice may cause the scalp to itch, though often there are no symptoms. Transmission is eventual through infected clothes, combs, brushes or towels, but extremely unlikely. The lifespan of a louse is very short once unruffled from the hair so fumigation is not necessary. Head lice can live up to 3 days off the scalp. Though the eggs can also outlive for up to 3 days, they need a warm environment to develop. They are not possible to hatch at room temperature.

There is no necessary to wash or specially treat clothing or bedding that has been in contact with head lice. They require warmth to survive and within hours of leaving their host they dry out and become incompetent to reproduce. Treatments all have the likeliness for unwanted side effects, and you should discuss the pros and cons with the pharmacist, nurse or doctor. In addition to undesired side effects there is an increasing problem with lice that are resistant to the effects of the treatments. Headlice are easy to observe in blonde or ginger hair, as yellow and orange are light colours. Human lice do not feed on the blood of other animals, only humans.

Head lice are not a severe health problem. Occassionally an infestation is marked by tiny red spots on the scalp. Lice may be noticed in the hair behind the ears and at the nape of the neck as these are favourite spots for infestations. As they cannot fly or jump, headlice are spread by close contact with another person's hair or head. This can be done by sitting or lying next to a person with headlice or using the same hairbrush, comb or hat. Headlice are not related with a lack of cleanliness.

There is no preclusive for head lice infestation other than normal hair care and checking hair and scalp periodically. Do not use medicated lotions or rinses ‘just in case', for instance in close friends or family members. They should only be used if live lice are present. Regular combing of hair using the bug-busting method can help with early detection as well as treatment.

Symptoms of Headlice

Itchy scalp.
Sores from scratching.
Tickling feeling in the hair.
Tiny red spots on the scalp.

Tips on detecting the Headlice

Wash hair well with an ordinary shampoo and towel dry unless damp, not dripping.
Buy a detection comb from your local pharmacy.
Remove tangles with an ordinary comb.
Repeat the process moving round the whole of the head. It will take 10 - 15 minutes to do properly
It is best to done detection combing on anyone who is possibly to have had sustained head to head contact with the affected person.

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