How to prevent, identify and treat head lice

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Did you know that head lice are much more common in the Fall than at any other time of the year? Obviously, this coincides with the start of the new school year, when children are once again in close contact with their classmates.

Head lice are common and treatable, but they're still a nuisance... and many parents' worst nightmare. So here's a panic-free guide to help you prevent and treat lice and nits!

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What are lice?

Lice are tiny, wingless insects that live on human heads and lay eggs, called nits, near the scalp. Lice are not dangerous and do not transmit disease, and having them is not at all a sign of uncleanliness. In fact, their only significant impact on our health is the itchiness they cause (although it's possible to have lice without having an itchy head!). Here are a few facts about head lice: 

• They are more common in children aged 3 to 11
• They're more common in girls than boys
• They are more common in Caucasian children
• They can live on all types of hair, straight, curly, coloured, etc.
• They cannot survive on pets as they need human blood

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How do lice spread?

Lice cannot fly, hop or jump, but they crawl very quickly. The most common way lice are spread is through head-to-head contact, which means your child must have touched the head of someone who has lice in order to be infested. This contact can take place during sports activities, slumber parties or playing inside or outside the school.

It is possible, although very rare, for lice to spread via objects such as hats, hairbrushes, clothing or bedding. As lice need to feed on blood every 12 to 24 hours, they cannot survive more than a day away from a human's head. 

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How to identify lice?

The most common symptom of head lice is, of course, an itchy head, though not everyone gets the itch. So wether your child has an itchy head, or has been in very close proximity to other children (who may or may not have head lice), it's a good idea to - pun intended - comb it all out.

What you're looking for : 

• Live lice: depending on the stage of their life cycle, they may be nymphs, which are smaller and greyish in colour, or adult lice, which move quickly and are more of a tan colour.
  
  
• Eggs (nits), which are the size of a sesame seed and sit at the root of the hair; for this reason, they are often mistaken for dandruff. Nits are attached to the hair with a kind of water-resistant glue. They hatch after 7 to 8 days and the larvae emerge.

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Source : Healthline

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How to check for lice?

What you need: 

• A bright light such as a lamp or flashlight
• A magnifying glass, if necessary
• White hair conditioner
• White paper tissues
• An ordinary comb
• A fine-toothed lice comb (available at pharmacies)
• A plastic bag

Start by examining the back of the ears and then the whole head, sorting out very small sections of hair and checking them from root to tip. You can use a magnifying glass to get a better look.

An easy way to spot live lice is to use white conditioner and a lice comb: 

• Apply conditioner to dry hair, soaking hair from scalp to ends.
• Remove any tangles with an ordinary comb.
• The conditioner stuns the lice for about twenty minutes, so don't waste any time; place the lice comb against the scalp and pull it through to the ends of the hair, section by section, all over the head.
•  After each pass through the hair, check the teeth of the comb for lice.
• On a tissue, wipe the comb covered in conditioner and check again for lice. 
• Place the used tissues in a plastic bag.
• Repeat this process several times.

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What to do if your child has lice?

t's your first line of defence against head lice. Your first line of defence is an over-the-counter treatment, usually sold in the form of a shampoo. The main difference between the different lice products is the stages of lice that the shampoo is able to kill. 

Most head lice treatments sold in pharmacies do not kill the nits. So, once the live lice have been killed, it may be necessary to apply a second treatment to kill the nymphs once they have hatched (around 9 or 10 days after the first treatment). If your child has allergies, talk to the pharmacist, who will be able to recommend the right product. Always follow the instructions carefully when applying the treatment.

Continue to check your child's head and that of other family members once a week for three weeks. If no lice or eggs are found after three weeks, the situation seems to have been resolved. If you still detect lice or eggs, repeat the treatment or consult a doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice on further treatment.

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Let’s clean up the house!

Because lice need to feed on blood to survive, they rarely spread to objects, but better to be safe than sorry! If your home has been under lice attack, you should: 

• Clean any items that have come into contact with lice and eggs (combs, hair clips, elastic bands, etc.) by washing them in hot, soapy water for at least 10 minutes, or by placing them in the freezer for 24 hours.
• Wash clothes and bedding that have been used by someone with lice as soon as you detect the presence of lice; wash in hot water and dry on a hot cycle for at least 20 minutes.
• Dry clean any clothes or objects you cannot wash yourself.
• Vacuum carpets, car seats, mattresses and furniture.

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How to prevent spreading lice?

There is no treatment to prevent head lice. However, you can limit their transmission: 

• If you or someone in your family has caught head lice, quickly inform anyone you have been in direct contact with, including personnel at your child's school or day-care centre.
• Remind your children to avoid rubbing their heads against other children's heads, not to share personal items such as combs and hats, and to keep their caps, tuques, scarves and hats in the sleeve of their coat or school bag.
• Check your child's head regularly, even if they have no symptoms.

Whether you are dealing with head lice or just want more information about them, the Bonjour-santé membership gives you unlimited access to quick e-consults with a nurse or pharmacist who will answer all your questions without you having to leave the house!

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