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Headlice

Treatment is simple and effective but we must all be on the lookout for these little insects which are so good at hiding that a case can go undetected for several months.

Head lice are small insects about the size of a match head.  They usually take the colour of the hair they live on.  A female louse lives up to a month and lays several eggs a day.  Eggs stay close to the scalp and hatch within 7 to 10 days.

Empty egg shells are called nits and may be seen away from the scalp as the hair grows.  Nits do not fall off and need to be removed with a detection comb available from chemists.

Head lice are spread by close head to head contact.  Therefore, when lice are detected in a child or adult, it is important that all close contacts are checked for head lice and where necessary, treated. A pharmacist will be able to advise you on treatments available.

You can detect head lice by combing hair through thoroughly.  This will also break the legs of the head lice which will make them unable to lay eggs.  If after the treatment adult lice are detected this would mean re-infestation and presence of small lice would indicate newly hatched lice from eggs.  If lice are found, treatment must be repeated.  Each family member should be checked for the presence of head lice at the same time.