Health Focus – Nits and lice

Does your child have nits and lice? Here is how you can eradicate them

30

Jan

2012

I recently caught head lice from my grandchildren and had to undertake the three-week treatment to eradicate them. There’s no longer any social stigma attached to nits or head lice. These tiny wingless insects are spread by head-to-head contact and so are very common among children who play together, no matter how clean their hair.

Here’s what to do:

Every week, take the time to check your child’s head for lice and nits (the eggs).
Nits are white, about the size of a sesame seed, and tend to be laid close to the hair roots to which the adult louse cements them.
Ask your pharmacist for the newer silicone and oil-based preparations as lice tend to be resistant to the traditional insecticides.
After washing with nit shampoo, systematically comb the hair through while wet, using a special fine-toothed nit and lice comb. You’ll need to do this once a week for three weeks to clear the lice as they hatch.
I found putting on a conditioner helped eradication.
Don’t forget the rest of the family – if one child has nits, everyone else probably does.