I remember back in my school days, head lice was a common problem and everyone of us would shun those who have it. Even now, it is not uncommon for school going children to come back with a head full of lice. Now, I noticed not much is written about the lice on parenting websites, so I am posting some facts here for those interested:

 What Are Head Lice?

• Head lice are small parasitic insects, about the size of a sesame seed and live on the human scalp. They are brownish, tan or gray in color and move by crawling.

• Lice do not jump or fly, and do not transmit diseases. They feed on human blood and without it they can’t survive.

• Lice are not known to cause disease.

• Lice infestations are not due to poor hygiene.

• Lice live on people’s scalps, not on animals.

• Lice do not travel great distances on their own and can only survive away from a human host for 48 hours. They crawl from one person to another and are spread by direct hair-to-hair contact. Other means of spreading is from the sharing of combs, hats, helmets, scarves, headphones, pillows or other personal items.

 Detection and Prevention

• Examine the head under bright natural light.

• Part the hair and closely examine the scalp, especially the nape of the neck and behind the ears. Lice will quickly move away from the light.

• To find the eggs and nits, look for small white or yellowish-brown specks that are about the size of a poppy seed. Eggs are found on the hair shaft close to the scalp. Newly laid eggs are almost transparent, so it is helpful to examine the hair from different angles of light.

• To tell the difference between eggs and dandruff, try to dislodge them from the hair shaft. If they are not easily removed, they are probably eggs.

• Check everyone in the family for lice or nits.

• Do not share combs or personal items worn on the head or neck.

• Wash all clothing, bedding and towels used by infested persons in hot water (above 130ºF). Dry items at highest heat for at least 20 minutes. Dry clean items that can’t be washed.

• Disinfect hair products such as combs, brushes, and hair accessories by soaking in hot (above 130º F) soapy water for 5 to 10 minutes.

• Place stuffed toys in plastic bags and seal for 2 weeks.

• Vacuum rugs, carpets, mattresses and car seats thoroughly. Dispose of vacuum cleaner bags immediately after use.

Treatment

Most important of all is the treatment. LiceMD®is a a product favoured by school nurses and health care providers because it is pesticide-free, pediatrician tested and clinically proven treatment for effectively, safely and simply eliminating head lice. The lubricating formula not only eliminates head lice, it allows the patented comb to glide effortlessly through the hair so parents can concentrate on removing lice, eggs, and nits — not on combing through tangled hair. It is SAFE as the primary ingredient, Dimethicone, is used as a conditioning agent in many top selling shampoos and has a well-known safety profile.

Eliminating head lice involves a simple 3 step process as follows:

1. Apply LiceMD® to dry hair, then wait 10-minutes
2. With LiceMD® still in the hair, section and comb hair to remove lice, eggs and nits
3. Shampoo hair thoroughly with regular shampoo and warm water

LiceMD® is sold over-the-counter at food, drug and mass retail outlets and wherever lice treatments are sold.