LICE TRANSMISSION AND TREATMENT

Although very tiny, head lice can be a real challenge for parents when you find them in your child’s hair. It’s often easier to get rid of these bugs than the prejudices that go with them! Find out how to get rid of lice once and for all.

WHAT ARE LICE?

Lice are minute insects, measuring 1 to 3 mm in length, appearing greyish white (or reddish brown post-feeding), and residing near the hair roots. They can also inhabit eyebrows or beards. Each day, they lay about 5 nits (lice eggs), which hatch approximately 10 days later. Live nits are light grey, roughly 1 mm long, resembling swollen dandruff or sesame seeds. Typically, they attach to hair less than 6 cm from the scalp and are challenging to remove due to their clinging nature.

As blood-feeding parasites, lice bite the scalp, injecting saliva that induces itching and small red sores near the ears and nape of the neck. Itching can manifest 4 to 6 weeks post-infestation.

While head scratching often indicates a lice infestation, certainty requires visual inspection. Detecting nits doesn’t necessarily confirm the presence of lice, as inactive or empty nits can persist in the hair even after treatment. A visual inspection involves combing through the hair with a fine-toothed comb.

Dispelling myths about lice, it’s important to note that:

  • Lice do not discriminate; they infest both clean and dirty hair and affect individuals from all walks of life.
  • They do not transmit diseases.
  • Lice are distinct from animal fleas.
  • They do not possess the ability to jump or fly.

HOW DO LICE SPREAD?

Lice exhibit swift mobility, easily transferring from the head of an infested individual to others through direct contact. Children are particularly susceptible due to their close interactions and physical contact during activities and hugs. Environments like schools and daycares are common hotspots for lice transmission.

Lice have a brief lifespan of 2 to 3 days without contact with a human host. Their spread is less likely through contact with personal items (e.g., hats, combs, hair brushes, pillowcases, etc.). However, nits, the lice eggs, can endure for up to 10 days away from the human body.

Receiving a notice from your school or daycare to check your child’s head should be taken seriously. Prompt screening and treatment are crucial in preventing the spread of lice to family members and others. Addressing the situation swiftly is essential for effective prevention.

HOW TO AVOID GETTING LICE

Lice are not effectively treated with regular shampoos, and there’s no foolproof method to prevent a lice infestation. However, certain precautions can be taken to reduce the risk:

  • Encourage children with long hair to keep it tied back.
  • Remind them to avoid placing their head in direct contact with a friend’s head, especially during activities like reading or giving hugs.
  • Instruct them to place toques, hats, and scarves inside the sleeve of their coats in their school lockers.
  • Emphasize the importance of not sharing personal items like hair brushes, hair elastics, headbands, toques, or hats with their friends.

By incorporating these practices, you can help minimize the likelihood of a lice infestation.

HOW TO CHECK IF YOUR CHILD HAS HEAD LICE

Perform regular checks on your child’s hair and scalp using a fine-toothed comb, specifically designed for lice detection. Conduct these checks:

  • At least once a week, particularly at the start of the school year and during regular hair washing.
  • Daily if lice have been discovered on a family member.
  • If your child complains of an itchy scalp or is frequently scratching their head.

Ensure good lighting when checking your child’s head, and consider using a magnifying glass for a closer look. Wet the hair before the examination, and using conditioner can facilitate combing while softening any nits present in the hair.

Focus on inspecting behind the ears and near the nape of the neck for lice and nits. Begin the examination at the nape and ears, dividing the hair into sections about the comb’s width. Check each section by running the comb from the scalp to the hair tips. After each pass, inspect the comb for nits or lice. Following the check, remember to wash your hands.

It’s important to note that nits can be mistaken for dandruff, dead scalp skin, dust, or dirt. The distinguishing factor is that nits adhere to the hair, and at times, you may need to remove them using your nails or tweezers.

If live lice or nits are found, prompt treatment is necessary.

HOW TO GET RID OF LICE

If live lice are detected:

  • Immediately apply a lice treatment: Obtain a special lice insecticide (pediculicide) from your pharmacy, available as shampoos, rinses, or sprays. Your pharmacist will recommend the most suitable treatment and provide comprehensive instructions for effective application. Children under 2, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and individuals with allergies to the product’s ingredients should consult a pharmacist or doctor to ensure the use of a safe treatment.
  • Notify relevant contacts: Inform the school or daycare, as well as anyone who has had close contact with the infested person.
  • Keep your child home: Keep your child home from school or daycare until the initial treatment has been applied. They can return once the first treatment is complete.
  • Remove nits with a lice comb: After applying the treatment, use a lice comb, dipping it in hot water after each stroke. Any nits resistant to combing can be eliminated by dragging them down the hair shaft with your nails or tweezers. Regular nit removal enhances the treatment’s effectiveness.
  • Check and treat all family members: Examine all family members for lice and treat everyone on the same day. Only treat individuals with an infestation, as preventive treatment is unnecessary and may lead to treatment resistance.
  • Repeat treatment and nit removal: Repeat the treatment on days 2, 11, and 17 after the initial treatment. In the subsequent days, use a lice comb to check all family members for infestations. Apply treatment promptly if live lice are found. If live lice are detected within 24 to 48 hours after the first treatment, consider using another type of product with guidance from your pharmacist.
  • Follow-up treatment: Repeat the treatment 7 or 9 days after the initial application (depending on the product used), regardless of finding live lice or nits.
  • Consult your pharmacist: If the treatment proves ineffective, seek guidance from your pharmacist.

When treatment doesn’t work, several factors may be at play:

  • Failure to follow product instructions.
  • Application of the product to dry instead of damp hair.
  • Insufficient duration of product application.
  • Incorrect timing of reapplication.
  • Use of a conditioner, contraindicated for certain products.
  • Reinfestation.
  • Resistance of lice to the product.

Home lice remedies: Fatty substances like petroleum jelly, mayonnaise, olive oil, or margarine may be suggested to “suffocate” lice. However, no study has proven their efficacy. Vinegar and lavender are popular home remedies, but their benefits lack scientific support. Hair dye is not proven effective against lice.

Cleaning personal items: Clean all items that come into contact with hair, such as caps, hats, combs, hairbrushes, accessories, and regularly used toys. Wash clothing, pillowcases, bed sheets, and towels used in the previous 2 days.

  • Soak objects in lice shampoo or warm water.
  • Dry clothes on high heat for 20 minutes, dry clean, or store in a sealed plastic bag for 10 days.
  • Vacuum furniture, floors, and items that can’t be washed. Avoid insecticide sprays.

For comprehensive information on treating and cleaning items in contact with your child, consult your pharmacist.