Head lice are becoming increasingly difficult to eradicate, so the old ways come to the rescue

In some classes, almost three out of four children have a history of head lice, according to observation.

Controlling head lice and children infested with them must be among the most difficult responsibilities that parents or educators have to face.

And the task is becoming increasingly difficult. Common chemicals are no longer as effective as they used to be, so head lice are becoming more and more difficult to eradicate.

It is still possible to rid children of lice, but it will probably require patience and perseverance.

Head lice are tiny, six-legged insects that live only in the hair of the human head – most commonly in the hair of primary school children.

Head lice have been constant companions of humans for millions of years of evolution.

Lice like to live in our hair. But every day they descend to the scalp several times to drink blood.

Their claws are perfectly adapted to make their way up and down the hair. But while they are nimble on the hair, once they leave it, they don’t live long – they are clumsy, uncoordinated and die quickly.

The term “nits” actually describes the eggs of head lice. They are often the first sign of infestation. And since one louse lays more than 100 eggs in a month of its life, there can be a lot of them.

Can lice spread disease?

No. Head lice are annoying and their bites can cause skin reactions. But Australian health authorities do not consider lice to be a health hazard. There is no evidence that head lice can spread disease-causing pathogens.

The stigma associated with head lice infestation may be stronger than any direct health effects on infested children.

Why do children often get lice infestations?

From nursery school to elementary school, a child has probably been infested with head lice at least once. According to one Australian study, the rate of infestation in Australian classrooms ranged from no cases to 72% of children.

Girls are more likely to be infested with head lice than boys. Long hair makes it easier for head lice to get in.

Head lice do not jump or fly, they move from head to head by direct contact.

Head lice get to children because they spend time in close contact with other children, cuddling, playing, or crowding around books or screens. Any head to head contact is a pathway for infection.

How do you keep your home free of head lice?

Keeping your home clean and tidy will not get rid of head lice. They don’t care how clean your sheets and towels are, or how often you vacuum your carpets and rugs.

There may be a risk of transmitting head lice through shared pillows, but even that risk is small.

There is no need to change your child’s or another family member’s bedding if you find lice in your child’s hair. According to NSW Health guidelines based on scientific research, “bedding, hats, clothing and furniture do not harbor or transmit lice or nits, so there is no benefit to washing them as a treatment option.”

A wide variety of head lice treatments are available at your local pharmacy.

The problem is that most of these products are insecticides, which kill lice on contact but may not kill the eggs.

Also, if the treatment is not done as directed on the label, some head lice will not be killed.

In addition, it seems that the chemicals we use to control head lice have become less effective on head lice, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to rid children of infestations.

So how do you get rid of them?

Don’t expect miracle remedies, but health authorities recommend using the “conditioner and comb” or “wet comb” method. This means that you physically remove lice without using chemicals.

There are three basic steps:

• immobilize the lice by applying hair conditioner to your child’s wet hair and leaving it on for about 20 minutes;
• systematically comb through the hair with a fine-toothed lice comb. The conditioner and lice can be removed with paper towels or tissues. Only the adult lice will be collected, but don’t worry, we will deal with the nits later;
• repeat the procedure twice a week apart to interrupt the life cycle of head lice.

Repeat the procedure after a week to allow the remaining eggs to hatch. It sounds counterintuitive, but letting the young lice hatch will make it easier to get them out than removing the nits. You just need to remove them before they start laying a new batch of eggs and the infestation continues.