View source for Kerry's Head Lice Experience and Advice

==Head lice==

I remember going to visit my 6 year old cousin, as I did most weekends. This particular occasion was a bit different to others. There was no playing or messing about because this time she had head lice!  She had been sent home from school early the previous day thanks to the school nurse finding the little critters all over the back of her head, particularly the nape of the neck.

Her mum had spent hours the night before wet combing her hair and then applying some treatment. I can't remember which treatment she used, but I can remember it smelt so bad it would make my eyes water.

The following day when I arrived, we decided to give the wet combing another try! I started at the nape of her neck and by taking very small sections of hair, starting at the root, I would slowly go down to the tip of the hair and then check the nit comb for any lice.  I had a dish with hot water next to me (safely out arms way) that I would rinse the comb in, and drown the lice and eggs.  Slowly working my way around each part of her head, we managed to comb all her hair and in doing so removed LOTS of head lice in the process.

I noticed that the eggs didn't come off with the comb very well and they were hard to pick out of her hair.  The eggs were tiny little white speckles attached to her hair, like grains of sugar but smaller.

Back then( 20 years ago ) there wasn't a huge choice of treatments and what was available didn't always work.  The head lice had become resistant to most chemical methods of removal, so nowadays there are lots of different forms of treatments you can get from your local pharmacist. Not all treatments are recommended for everyone so please speak to the pharmacist before purchasing one.

I'm now a mother of two, so check I my children's hair weekly.  I for one can't see my kids sitting still for hours on end having their hair combed,so would have no choice but to use a chemical treatment. Thankfully they haven't had them "YET"

====How to wet comb====

* wash hair as normal with shampoo and conditioner.

* Lightly towel dry.

* Apply a second conditioning treatment and leave this on.

* Using a large toothed comb,brush the hair,and put into small sections.

* Now using your nit comb,slowly comb the hair from root to tip,rinsing your comb after each section.

* Do this for all the hair, before rinsing the conditioner and drying.

* You need to repeat this on day 5,9 and 13. This is so you remove all the immature lice before they reach maturity.

====Treatments Available====

Using medicated lotion or spray is an alternative method of treating head lice. However, no medicated treatment is 100% effective. Crème rinses and shampoos are not thought effective and are therefore not recommended.

Your pharmacist can recommend a treatment for you and your family as there are many different types available.

Make sure you follow the manufacturing instructions, and make sure you reapply the second dose a fortnight later to kill the new lice that hatch,as no chemical treatments kill the eggs.

If the lice have become resistant to the treatment or if you have recurrence of infestations, please speak to your GP,Health Visitor or School Nurse.

====Avoiding reinfestation====

* Making sure you wash bed linen and clothing regularly during the period of infestation, this will help to prevent re-infestation as any eggs will be removed.

* Keep boys hair short,to avoid hair to hair contact.

* Keep girls hair plaited or tied up.

* Check regularly for infestations, so you can catch and treat them before they get out of hand.

--[[User:Kerryflump|Kerryflump]] ([[User talk:Kerryflump|talk]]) 19:51, 5 May 2013 (UTC)