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Head lice: Information for parents

Treatment

There are two treatment options. One is to use insecticide lotion, and the other is removal by Bug Busting (see below). Both are available on prescription from your doctor and from nurse prescribers (some practice nurses and health visitors) or over the counter at your local pharmacy.

Lotions

You can ask your school nurse, health visitor, pharmacist or doctor about which lotion is most effective. People with asthma or allergies, pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, and parents or carers of very young children should always ask their doctor or pharmacist about which treatments are safe for them.

Note the following advice for using lotions:

• Do not use lotions unless you find a living, moving louse. Head lice may become resistant to lotions if they are used too often.
• If live head lice are still being found after two treatments, ask your doctor, pharmacist, health visitor or school nurse for advice.
• Follow the instructions on the packet carefully. These will tell you how to apply the lotion, how long to leave it on the hair and when any repeat application is required for the treatment to be effective. The treatment method may vary between different lotions.
• Although the lotion will kill the lice, it will not kill the eggs. You will need to apply the lotion again after 7 days to kill any newly hatched baby lice. Again, this procedure may vary between different lotions, so follow the instructions on the packet carefully.
• Treatment does not prevent infections.

Bug busting

This is a non-insecticide alternative to lotions that involves combing out all lice with a fine-toothed detection comb using the wet combing method described below. To be effective, Bug Busting needs to be repeated every 3 days for up to 3 weeks to ensure that all head lice are removed.

The ‘Bug Buster Kit’ is available on prescription. Only one kit is required for a family and it is reusable. The kit, which includes an illustrated guide and combs for the detection and removal of head lice, is available from some pharmacies and also by mail order from:

Community Hygiene Concern
(Charity reg no: 801371)
6–9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA
Help Line: 020 7686 4321
Web site: www.nits.net/bugbusting

Wet combing

Wet Combing

1. Shampoo the hair, rinse, apply lots of conditioner and use a wide-toothed comb to untangle and straighten.

2. Once the tangles have gone, section the hair and comb with a fine-toothed detection comb from root to end. Comb one section at a time, paying particular attention to the back of the neck and the area around the ears.

3. Check the comb for live lice between each stroke and remove them.

4. When the whole head of hair has been combed through and checked, rinse off the conditioner.

5. Check all family members at the same time and arrange treatment if lice are found.

If you discover head lice, inform any close contacts, so they and their families know they should check too.

The time required to wet comb the whole head can range from 2 minutes for short, straight hair to 30 minutes for long, curly hair.

Photographs from Community Hygiene Concern