headlice

• Headlice

  Very small insects (live lice) that live on human heads
• Nits

  Empty eggshells of lice, oval can cream/white coloured, often stuck to hair shafts
• Nits/empty eggshells only do not indicate current lice infestation
• Common symptoms

  • Itchy head
  • Itching is not present in all cases
  • Presence of nits
  • Feeling of movement on the head
  • Irritability/difficulty sleeping
• Refer pregnant or breast feeding patients (except use of Hedrin)
• Physical Insecticides- headlice treatment

  • Dimeticone (Hedrin) - traps/suffocates the lice. Lotion, leave on head for 8 hours overnight. Odourless, pesticide free head lice treatment. Carry out 2 treatments 7 days apart to kill any lice that may have hatched after 1st treatment. Licensed for adults and children over 6 months

  
  

  • Isopropyl alcohol & Isopropyl myristate (Vammouse) - Dissolves the protective exoskeleton of the head lice and the eggs. Age >2yrs. Flammable, avoid flames
• Chemical Insecticides

  • Permethrin (Lyclear) - alcohol based, should be avoided in asthma/eczema patients
  • Malathion (Derbac M)
• Wet combing

  1. Wash hair first thoroughly with a shampoo (use conditioner, harder for lice to stick to hair)

  2. Fine metal toothed comb - used through the hair, section by section from the scalp to the tips of the hair

  3. Check comb for nits and lice after each stroke, if any seen then remove them and repeat process again

  4. Once whole head complete, rinse and dry hair

  5. Repeat this procedure every 4 days for 2 weeks until no head-lice found for 3 consecutive days
• Counselling headlice?

  >Hair should be allowed to dry naturally (avoid flames/no hair dryer)

  >Broad comb, then fine tooth comb wet, well conditioned hair to remove dead lice & eggs

  >Avoid application >3 consecutive weeks

  >The same insecticide should NOT be used for the next re-infestation

  >ONLY TREAT THOSE AFFECTED and on the same day to avoid reinfestation

  >encourage contact tracking with a view to treating ALL INFECTED contacts simultaneously

  > child can go to school as normal