Publication
Head lice: Information for parents (reprinted 2011)
| Contents: | Detection Treatment Alert letters from schools Tips Facts about head lice |
Tips
- Head louse eggs take up to 10 days to hatch. Baby lice take 6–14 days to become fully grown, and it is after this that they will take the opportunity to move from head to head during close contact. Younger lice tend to remain for a minimum of 6 days on the head where they have hatched.
- Treatment is only needed when a thorough check detects live lice. Insecticide lotion, rinse, mousse or shampoo should never be used preventatively – doing this may help the lice to become resistant to treatment.
- Beware of mixing your own potion for treatment or repelling lice – it is unlikely to be effective and could be dangerous. In particular, essential oils, such as tea tree, must be used with extreme caution on children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. ‘Natural’ does not necessarily mean ‘safe’.
- Seek advice from your school nurse, health visitor, pharmacist or doctor about which treatments are effective – not all those on the market are. In particular, there is no evidence that ‘electronic zappers’, tea tree oil or preparations that claim to contain insecticides of natural origin are effective.
This leaflet complements the Scottish Executive Health Department’s national guidance for professionals, Guidance on Managing Head Lice Infection in Children.
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