This leaflet is being produced to support parents and carers in knowing
how best to manage if they find or are told their child has head lice or
nits(the empty egg shells) in their hair.
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Head lice is a community problem, not just school as pupils are in contact
with a variety of people form a variety of sources. What is important is
that parents/carers are given the correct information and support where
required to remove the head lice.
NHS(Fife) state in their policy that parents should, as a matter of good
practice, check through wet combing family members hair on a weekly
basis. This allows head lice to be detected as well as prevent re-infection.
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Signs to look our for
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Information on Head Lice
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Head lice are grey/brown wingless insects and when fully grown
are the size of a match head. When they are young they are the
size of a pinhead.
They live close to or on the scalp where they find warmth and
food.
They are not particular on whether hair is clean or dirty
They cannot jump or fly. They crawl through hair.
They are usually caught through close head to head contact.
They can survive for a short period off the hair. It is important
therefore whenever possible not to share combs, brushes and hair
accessories.
The female lays between 5-8 eggs a day and these are glued to the
hair and are difficult to detect as they are flesh coloured. They
take around 7 days to hatch
Empty egg shells are white and easy to see. These are known as
nits. This may not indicated a current live infection. Treatment is
only required if live head lice are found.
Unless removed by hand the empty egg shells will stay stuck to
the hair.
During a life-span of one month, the head louse will shed its skin
3 times. This skin as well as louse droppings may be seen on
pillows. It looks like black dust.
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There are no signs or symptoms at the early stages so weekly
checks should be done using a detection comb available from any
chemist.
Live head lice can cause itching of the scalp and back of the neck.
Black dust on the pillowcase.
Detection and Prevention
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Routine checks in school of all children no longer take place as
they were found to be ineffective.
Letters are no longer sent to say that someone in the class has head
lice as it was found also to be ineffective and also led to an over
use of chemicals in children’s hair which allowed an immunity to
the chemical to build up.
Head lice are easier to detect on wet hair therefore wet combing is
recommended. A suitable time would be when hair had just been
washed.
Once the hair has been washed and rinsed it should be towel dried.
Apply a generous amount of thick conditioner to the hair and if
necessary use an ordinary comb to untangle the hair.
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Using a head lice detection comb slot the comb in to a section of
the hair, as close to the scalp as possible, with the teeth flat against
the scalp and draw the comb right down to the hair tip.
Check the comb in good lighting between each stroke.
Remove any lice from the comb between each stroke by wiping
the comb with a paper towel. A toothpick or nail brush may be
needed to remove large lice.
Work methodically over the whole head, through all sections of
the hair. If during the procedure the hair dries out apply more
conditioner and extra water.
Rinse the hair and dry as normal if no head lice are found.
If head lice are found you should contact a local pharmacy for
further advice on treatment. The school nurse is also a good
source for help.
Lawhead School
Informing Others
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You must inform the school if your child has head lice as we have
a duty of care to all children and we also have an obligation to
inform the school nurse who will then contact you to offer advice
and support.
If it is a member of the school staff who detect head lice you will
be informed by phone if possible, but a letter will also come home.
We will also contact the school nurse.
The school will put information in its newsletter periodically
reminding parents/carers of their responsibility.
Please encourage your child to avoid close head contact where
possible.
Management of
Headlice