Transcript What you need to know about head lice

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What you need to
know about head lice
Lice Life Cycle
• Nits (lice eggs) are found at the base of the
hair shaft, they are usually yellowish white
• Nits take about 1 week to hatch
• The adult louse is the size of a sesame seed,
has 6 legs, and is tan to grayish-white
• Females are larger than males and can lay
up to 8 nits per day
• Adult lice can live for 30 days on a person’s
head but will die within 1-2 days without a
blood meal
Nit
Nit
Empty Nit
Dead Nit
Fuzz (not a nit)
NIX/Kwellada-P (permethrin 1%)
• Safe and effective in people over 2 years
• Active residue lasts for up to 14 days
• Limited nit-killing activity
• Reapply on day 7, may need a third application
in another 7 days if active lice are still visible
• Directions:
• Shampoo the hair with a non-conditioning shampoo
• Rinse completely and towel-dry the hair
• Apply the medicated cream rinse, be sure to apply
to the area behind the ears and the nape of the
neck
• Leave on for 10 minutes
• Rinse well and dry with a clean towel
• Use the comb provided to remove nits
RESULTZ (50% isopropyl myristate)
• Dehydrates lice which results in death within
10 minutes
• Doesn’t kill nits
• No residual effect
• Insecticide free
• Directions:
• Apply to dry hair and massage into scalp
• Leave on for 10 minutes then rinse
• Use the comb provided to remove the dead lice
and nits
• Reapplication in 7 to 10 days is necessary
• Not for use in children less than 4 years of age
Lindane
• Only to be used if other treatments fail
• Do not contact other parts of body as lindane is toxic
• Directions:
• Apply to dry hair
• Work in for four minutes
• Add small amount of water and lather for four minutes
• Rinse thoroughly
• Common side effects:
• Itching/burning skin
• Dry skin
• Skin rash
• May causes seizures, don’t use if history of seizures
• Not safe for use in children or adults weighing less
than 110 pounds
Nit Picking
• Divide hair into
small sections
• Comb hair from
the scalp to the
ends of the strands
in one complete
motion
• Start at the scalp
and drag nits to
the end of the hair
shaft , then off
• Dip the comb in
hot, soapy water
and clean with a
paper towel after
each comb
through
• If any nits remain on the strands,
comb through again.
• Curl up the inspected section of
hair with a bobby pin
• Continue combing until all of
the sections have been
completed
• When finished wash clothing, towel,
comb, and hands thoroughly
• Remove bobby pins and shampoo
hair thoroughly and rinse well
• Inspect the entire family every day
for at least 14 days.
What should be cleaned?
• Wash pillowcases, sheets, nightclothes, towels
and stuffed animals in hot water
• Dry laundry using high heat for at least 20 minutes
• Combs, brushes, hats and other hair accessories
in contact with an infested person should be
washed in hot water or rubbing alcohol for one
hour each day to dislodge any lice and nits
• Anything that cannot be washed or dry cleaned
should be stored in a sealed plastic bag for 2
weeks or placed in the freezer overnight
• Vacuum the floor and furniture
Fact versus Fiction
• Lice do not carry
disease
• Pets may transfer lice
but they cannot
become infested
• Lice survive only a day
or two away from a
host, nits survive a
week
• Nits more than half an
inch from the scalp are
hatched or dead
• Lice do not fall
from the hair or
die immediately
upon treatment
• Generally there are
fewer than a dozen
active lice on the
head at any time
• The best way to see
nits is to check for
them in natural light
with a magnifying
glass
• Treatment does
not remove nits
from the hair, nit
picking is a must
Do’s & Don’ts
• Don't use a hair dryer after applying scalp treatment,
some ingredients may be flammable
• Don't use a cream rinse or shampoo/conditioner
combination before applying lice medication
• Don't wash your child's hair for 1 to 2 days after using a
medicated treatment
• Don't use fumigant sprays, as they can be harmful
• Don't use the same medication more than three times
on one person. If it doesn’t seem to be working, talk to
a health care professional
• Don't use more than one head lice medication at a
time.
• Don’t use lice medication to prevent infestation on a
person without active lice
Prevention
• Never share combs, brushes, or hair
accessories
• Don’t wear someone else’s hat, scarf,
sweater or coat immediately after they
have removed it
• Refrain from head-to-head contact during
sports etc.
• Tea tree oil may be effective in preventing
infestation by lice (add a few drops to
your shampoo or purchase ready made
shampoo)