What Are the Signs?

The most obvious sign that your child has lice is persistent scratching of the scalp. Lice cause intense itching, and this is often the first indication of infection.

If you think you child may be infected, you should inspect his hair for evidence of louse eggs - known as “nits.” Since lice are tiny, grey, and move fast, they are usually hard to spot. Nits, however, can easily be seen with the aid of a magnifying glass, clinging to the shaft of the hair.

Dead nits that have hatched are a silvery colour and easy to see on dark hair. Live nits are tan and more difficult to identify. If you find nits on your child’s hair, you can assume that lice are also present and should be dealt with as soon as possible.

How Do Lice Spread?

Lice spread through close personal contact. They do not jump or fly from person to person. The tiny insects are particularly troublesome in elementary schools because young children often sit close together during group projects.

Lice also spread through the sharing of personal articles such as hats, scarves and other head gear, as well as hairbrushes and combs. Girls are more likely to be affected than boys due to closer social behaviour.

Treating Head Lice

Head lice are easily treated by following these procedures:

Check the hair of all family members. Treat everyone at the same time. (You might also inform the parents of your child’s closest friends that he/she has lice and that you are taking measures to deal with them.)

Health Canada advises using two treatments of a louse-killing shampoo, seven to 10 days apart. A second shampoo will ensure that any head lice that hatch after the first shampoo will be killed before they have a chance to lay any more eggs. Your London Drugs pharmacist can help you select the right shampoo for your family’s needs.

Develop a “no sharing” policy for hairbrushes, headgear, etc. until lice are eradicated.

Establish a regular routine of checking your child’s hair for reappearance of lice and/or nits.

Finally, reassure your child that head lice are normal, if annoying, visitors and nothing to be scared of or embarrassed by.

What Should I Clean?

Since head lice do not survive for long once they are off the scalp, they do not pose a risk to others through contact with furniture or carpets. Once away from its source of nourishment, a louse survives at most for 24 hours.

Wash all dirty clothes, bedding, towels, brushes and combs used by the affected person/s in hot water. Items that cannot be washed, such as pillows or stuffed animals, can be placed in a sealed plastic bag for ten days or in the freezer for 48 hours. You may also wish to vacuum a child’s car seat as a precaution.

Your Pharmacist Says:
If you are pregnant or nursing a baby, please consult your doctor before using a treatment for head lice.

If you are using a pharmaceutical preparation such as Nix®, your London Drugs pharmacist will counsel you concerning its use. Adults or children with allergies to Chrysanthemums or ragweed should not use louse-eradicating products containing permethrin or pyrethrin. To minimize both your child’s and your own exposure to chemicals, wear rubber or plastic gloves when applying an anti-louse agent to your child’s hair and rinse it off in the sink, rather than in the shower.

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