Headlice
Headlice (or ‘nits’) are small insects that live on people's scalps and lay their eggs on separate strands of hair.
Summary
Headlice spread by crawling from one person’s hair to another’s.
They’re usually spread amongst people who are in close contact, such as family or school classmates.
Anyone can be infested, and there is no obvious relationship to hair cleanliness. However parents who wash their children’s hair frequently will find them quicker.
Related websites
BestHealth
Part of the medical publishing division of the British Medical Association.
- Headlice – section covering their lifecycle, what they look like, symptoms and treatments
Kidshealth
Developed by the Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand.
- Headlice – key points to remember, links to resources
DermNet NZ
New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated
- Photographs of headlice (so you know what to look for)
Women and Children's Health Network – Child and Youth Health
This website by the South Australian government agency has a kids’ health section with useful information on:
Symptoms
Signs of headlice
Two common signs of headlice are:
- an extremely itchy scalp, especially around the nape of the neck, behind the ears, under the fringe and at the top of plaits or a pony tail
- scratch marks or a rash on the scalp.
How to check for headlice
- Check the person’s scalp for insects or eggs.
- Use a fine-tooth comb on wet hair, as this makes it easier to find any lice.
- Pay particular attention to the crown and the hairline – especially at the back of their neck and behind their ears.
What do headlice look like?
Treatment
The two most common headlice treatment methods are ‘wet combing’ and ‘chemical treatment’.
- Wet combing – wet the hair and scalp with conditioner (this makes it easier to see the headlice) then comb the lice and eggs out. It’s best to use the fine mental combs or special headlice combs you can get from a pharmacy.
- Chemical shampoo or lotion (containing insecticide) – this will kill the lice and eggs. Always re-treat 7 to 10 days after the first treatment, to kill any headlice that may have hatched from eggs that survived the first treatment.
Other treatments of unproven efficacy include electric combs, herbal/essential oils and enzyme treatments.
Prevention
- Brush your hair every day, as this can help to kill or injure lice and stop them from laying eggs. if you have long hair it is best to bend your head forward with your hair hanging down and use a firm bristled brush.
- Don't share brushes, combs, headbands, ribbons, hairclips, helmets or hats – basically anything that has direct contact with someone’s head.
- In sports or swimming pool changing rooms, it’s best for children to keep their clothes separate from other children’s.
- If you do get headlice in your family, treat everyone that has them at the same time, as this can help reduce the chance of re-infestation.
- Regularly check your children for headlice – eg, every week.
It’s not possible to completely prevent headlice because they’re very common and breed prolifically.
Resources
Headlice Facts
Available from HealthEd
Page last updated: 20 February 2013
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