Your Guide To Head Lice Treatment

Pesticides lotions and shampoos

Lotions are very good at killing lice, but some have acceptance problems. Shampoos are nicer to use but are less effective.

Lice can become resistant to the effects of both lotions and shampoos.

Lotions:

Pros:

• Effective at killing

• Easy to apply

Cons:

• Resistance can reduce effectiveness

• Some are unsuitable for people with allergies

• Some have a strong odour

Shampoos

Pros:

• Pleasant for children and parents

• Easy to apply

• Some have 10minute treatment time

Cons:

• Not as effective as lotions

• Resistance still a problem

• Not available on prescription

In Britain four pesticides are used against head lice , malathion, carbaryl, permethrin and phenothrin.

The reason that four are needed is to combat potential resistance to any one pesticide. Head lice can become resistant to a particular pesticide , reducing its ability to kill them, this is caused either by lice surviving weak concentrations of pesticides and passing resistance on to their off spring or by over use of a particular pesticide in an area making the lice in that area become resistant. Resistance is not a problem with any other type of treatment.

How to use Pesticide lotions, shampoos and rinses should be applied according to the pack instructions and repeated as the instructions tell you- usually after one week. This will catch lice that have hatched between treatments and before the can lay eggs of their own.

If lice are not affected by the first application there's no point in re applying that particular pesticide you'll need to get a different pesticide and start all over again. To check , use a detector comb 24 hours after the first treatment, if you find lice in all stages of growth then get another pesticide.

Non pesticides lotions

Very good at killing lice and has no resistance problems. However it has to be left in the hair for 8 hours or overnight.

Pros:

• Effective at killing lice

• Easy to apply

• No resistance problems

• No odour

• Allergy problems are unlikely

Cons:

• 8 hours or overnight treatment time

Non pesticides lotions use an odourless dimeticone compound that coats head lice and smothers them and are effective as pesticides lotions at killing lice.

Because it uses a purely mechanical non toxic method , resistance cannot develop and it can be used as often as necessary without irritating the scalp.

How to use Non pesticides lotions should be applied according to the pack instructions tell you - usually after one week.

This will catch lice that have hatched between treatments and before they can lay eggs of their own. To check effectiveness use a detector comb 24 hours after the second treatment, if you find lice lice then repeat the entire treatment until no lice are present.

Wet combing

Can be effective if the correct techniques is used as often as required. Can be rather time consuming for parent and child.

Pros:

• Effective with the right procedure and where there are only a few lice

• Allergy problems are unlikely

• No need to but treatments

Cons:

• Time consuming

• Children can be uncooperative

• May only control the lice on the head at any one time

• If lice are missed the infection will continue and spread

Comb all infected people every 3 days for at least 2 weeks or until live lice cannot be found.

How To use Wet hair with water or conditioner and using a find toothed plastic nit comb , comb all the hair from the scalp to the tip.

Hair grips or slides may be helpful to separate the combed hair from the rest ant the correct combing technique is essential for effective treatment. Proper combing will take at least half an hour per person and should be repeated every three days for a fortnight or until live lice cannot be found. it is important to check for lice nymphs and eggs as well as lice adults , if any of these are missed the infection will continue.

Alternative treatments

A wide range available but with no proof of effectiveness.

Pros:

• Wide range available

Cons:

• No clear proof of effectiveness

• Some ingredients may cause irritation

There are a large number of herbal and other treatments available, but many have been tested and found not to work very well or in some cases not at all. If you do want to try one of these favour the CE marked treatments.

How To Use : Follow the instructions for the products chosen , if your child has allergies or skin problems consult you doctor before use.

Getting the right advice, you can get more advice from your pharmacist who will have most of the treatments readily available, Your gps surgery will also have information and may well have a community , health protection or school nurse who can help further. If you have problems with treatment such as skin irritation or asthma ask a health professional before continuing.

Your school will often be responsible for issuing head lice warnings and may also give out information on treatment.

Page Title :

Your Guide To Treatment  Head Lice